Ep. 2401 - INCREDIBLE: US Military Launches Most REMARKABLE Rescue Operation Of All Time

April 6, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Rescue That Changed the War

The United States military pulled off what multiple officials are calling the most complex special operations rescue in history: extracting a downed F-15E weapons system officer from a mountain crevice in Iran, more than a day after he ejected from his stricken jet, while Iranian forces with a $60,000 bounty on his head closed in. The operation involved hundreds of special operators, a hastily built airstrip inside Iran, a CIA deception campaign, and the destruction of two American cargo planes that got stuck in the sand rather than let them fall into enemy hands. The entire rescue unfolded over Good Friday and Easter weekend, and the weapons officer's first confirmed transmission was the phrase "God is good."

How the Rescue Unfolded

The F-15E Strike Eagle was the first American fighter jet lost to enemy fire in the war, shot down by a shoulder-fired rocket on Friday. Both crew members ejected and survived. The pilot was rescued within six hours by a force including attack helicopters under small-arms fire from the ground. But the weapons system officer was separated from the pilot, concussed, and unconscious for a period after landing. He woke up, sent a signal, then hiked up a 7,000-foot ridgeline and wedged himself into a crevice to hide.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **The Rescue Operation: Overview and Stakes** - Ben introduces the story of the US military rescue of a downed F-15E pilot and weapons systems officer in Iran, framing it as one of the most audacious operations in history.
2 (01:10) **Military Context: US Dominance and the Shootdown** - Ben explains the US has complete air dominance over Iran, with 12,000 sorties flown and zero American planes shot down until Friday.
3 (03:22) **The WSO's Ordeal and the Deception Plan** - The WSO survived a concussion, hiked up a 7,000-foot ridgeline, and hid in a crevice while the IRGC hunted him.
4 (07:40) **The Rescue Mission: Planning and Execution** - A massive rescue operation was launched involving 100 special operations forces (SEAL Team 6, Delta Force, Army Rangers), supported by B-1 bombers and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
5 (10:23) **Final Extraction and Aftermath** - The rescue force and WSO were loaded onto C-130s, but nose gear got stuck in the sand; they were reloaded onto replacement aircraft, and the disabled planes were bombed to prevent capture.
6 (12:18) **The "God is Good" Signal and Presidential Statement** - The WSO identified himself by saying "God is good" over the radio, which helped confirm his identity.
7 (15:11) **SERE Training and the Value of "Leave No Man Behind"** - The WSO's survival was attributed to SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training.

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Show Notes

The United States military executes the most remarkable search and rescue operation of all time; President Trump threatens Iran with destruction; and the Trump administration expels relatives of Iranian terrorist leaders who were living high on the American hog.

Ep. 2401

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