This is the story of an American hero.
The U.S. Air Force colonel rescued from Iran in April revealed Sunday night that the "most terrifying moment" of surviving nearly two days on enemy lines was plummeting to earth with a damaged parachute after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile over Iranian soil.
The weapons systems officer — known only by the mission call sign Dude 44 Bravo — spoke publicly for the first time in a gripping interview with CBS "60 Minutes" host Norah O'Donnell for the show's 59th season premiere.
"My parachute was damaged in the initial attack. At one point, when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen."
Bravo estimated he was falling to the ground at somewhere between 70 and 100 miles per hour after his crewmate and pilot — call sign Alpha — ejected them from the $30 million jet.
'I Wasn't Focused on the Speed — I Was Focused on Surviving'
The plane was shot down by an Iranian with a shoulder-fired missile and crashed in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in the southwestern part of Iran near Iraq.
"I wasn't focused on the speed at which I was falling. I was instead focused on trying to correct the problems that were in front of me. And doing anything I could to unfurl or pull pieces of the parachute loose."
Bravo somehow survived the fall — injured but alive. What followed was an extraordinary 50-hour ordeal behind enemy lines that would test the limits of any human being.
Alone in the Mountains of Iran
The fighter jet's pilot was rescued within hours. But Bravo remained alone in the mountains of Iran for two full days — wounded, hunted, and surrounded by enemy forces.
According to prior reporting, the colonel climbed a mountain, hid in a crevice, and dodged Iranian bounty hunters for 36 hours as one of the largest and most complex rescue operations in U.S. military history swung into action around him.
The daring mission involved U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen, the Army's elite 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force), the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers), and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) — backed by the CIA. A never-before-used secret tool code-named "Ghost Murmur" was deployed to help locate the lost airman in the rugged Iranian terrain.
Nine Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) troops were killed and eight more wounded during the rescue operation — a testament to the ferocity and precision of the American forces who refused to leave one of their own behind.
'I Will Be Thankful to My Dying Day'
Through it all, Bravo's focus never wavered. And his gratitude to the pilot who saved his life was unmistakable.
"I will be thankful to my dying day for my pilot and crewmate Alpha for saving our lives and ejecting us."
Both crew members were ultimately rescued and brought home — a testament to the skill, courage, and unbreakable bond of the American warfighter.
The full account of Bravo's survival — the evasion, the injuries, the moment his rescuers finally reached him — aired on the season premiere of "60 Minutes" on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+.
It's a story of grit, faith, and the indomitable American spirit — a reminder that behind every uniform is a warrior who will never quit, no matter the odds.
