A Uniquely American Rescue
A U.S. Air Force Colonel was rescued last night from behind enemy lines in Iraq. He was the WSO (Weapon Systems Operator) in an F-15E Strike Eagle, the Air Force’s premier strike aircraft. The pilot of the airplane also ejected and was recovered fairly quickly. The WSO, on the other hand, was in a world of hurt.
The WSO used the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training to evade capture, hiding on an elevated ridge after hiking away from the wreckage and putting out an emergency beacon.) US Special Operations rescue forces to include PJs (United States Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) and many layers of elite rescue forces took part in the complex, layered mission to both find the crew member and also keep the Iranian forces who were hunting the American weapons system operator at bay.
Iran called out the clans to capture this guy, and even offered a $60,000 bounty if anyone could find him. However, America wanted him back safely more than the Iranians wanted him dead, and we also called out the clans for this one.
And our clans are better than their clans.
Tier One units of all shapes and sizes were put into place to help with the rescue. It’s a given that Pararescuemen from the 24th Special Operations Squadron were involved, and more than likely other SpecOps units like the Green Berets and SEALS as well. Things got to the point where two C-130 Hercules transports sent into the get everyone out got stuck in the sand, so three more were sent in to get everybody, and Green Berets blew up the two that were stuck. All of this, and no U.S. personnel were killed.
We have learned a lot since Operation Eagle Claw.
What struck me this morning as I soaked all of this in was the scale of the operation. Yes, other countries have teams dedicated to rescuing downed airmen, and their training is top-notch, but lawdamighty, the SCALE of this op boggles the imagination. Based on a quick glance through Twitter, the assets that we know of include:
- An A-10 Warthog which took a hit and crash-landed in Kuwait
- A Blackhawk helicopter took hits and had casualties, but landed safely with no KIAs
- The aforementioned C-130s, probably MC-130J Commando II variants designed to support special operations behind enemy lines
- UPDATE: Looks like an MH-60 “Little Bird” was also blown up on the ground
And that’s just the stuff which either took hits or was destroyed in the operation. All tolled, I’m guessing total amount of men involved easily tops a thousand, with dozens of aircraft involved in the mix.
All to get one guy back home safely.
Can other countries do something similar? Sure. There are reports that Israel’s Sayeret Matkal and Unit 5101 “Shaldag” special operations units helped out in the rescue. Can other countries do this on this sort of scale, with such overwhelming firepower that no one winds up dead in the process? Oh heck no. Only the U.S. can bring that amount of hate to the table.
Well done, everyone, well done.