# US Airman Smiles After 50-Hour Iran Rescue

> US airman flashes thumbs-up in selfie after 50-hour rescue from Iran.
- Title: US Airman Smiles After 50-Hour Iran Rescue · Dailymail
- Summary: US airman flashes thumbs-up in selfie after 50-hour rescue from Iran. US Air Force colonel 'Dude 44 Bravo' survived 50-hour ordeal in Iran after being shot…
- Keywords: us air force, iran, rescue mission, dude 44 bravo, f-15e strike eagle, c-17 aircraft, parachute, broken back, sos beacon, iranian forces, revolutionary guard, news
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16133035/us-airman-dude44-bravo-shot-iran-rescue-selfie.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-18T14:23:13+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: us air force, iran, rescue mission, dude 44 bravo, f-15e strike eagle, c-17 aircraft, parachute, broken back, sos beacon, iranian forces, revolutionary guard, news
## Hero's selfie
US Air Force colonel 'Dude 44 Bravo' flashes triumphant thumbs-up in selfie after 50-hour rescue from Iran.

> I had injuries, but we all train to adapt and overcome the things that we're faced with
## Rescue operation
US forces took nearly 50 hours to rescue the airman from a remote mountain ridge in Iran after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down.
## Injuries and escape
Bravo suffered a broken back, arm, shoulder, and sprained ankle after ejecting from his $30 million F-15E Strike Eagle.
## Parachute failure
Bravo's parachute was damaged by the blast, leaving him freefalling at 70 to 100mph with no parachute visible.
## Hiding in the mountains
Bravo hid in a crevice for nearly 50 hours after being shot down in the Zagros mountains, avoiding Iranian forces.
## SOS beacon
Bravo used an emergency beacon sparingly to avoid giving his location away, broadcasting a faint SOS until picked up by the CIA.
## Rescue mission
US forces deployed over 90 special operators to reach Bravo via helicopter and evacuate him from a desert airstrip.
## Rescue challenges
Bravo's rescue planes got stuck in the sand and couldn't take off, forcing a clandestine Air Force unit to extract them.
## Rescue success
Bravo was rescued after 50 hours, with US forces striking Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces near his hiding place.
## Bravo's reaction
Bravo called his wife and said he was 'really proud of her and grateful for the strength that she showed'.
## Bravo's words
Bravo described the rescue as 'a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, of the decisions and the leadership to do something that will live in history as an example of what America's willing to do, in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind'.
## Iranian response
Iranian commanders were likely to be infuriated by the selfie, which could score a propaganda coup for US forces.
## Rescue timeline
Bravo was shot down on April 3, 2026, and rescued after 50 hours by US forces in Iran.
## Rescue details
The rescue involved more than 150 American aircraft and thousands of military personnel, marking the first US boots on the ground in Iran in 46 years.
## Bravo's injuries
Bravo suffered a broken back, arm, shoulder, and sprained ankle after ejecting from his F-15E Strike Eagle.
## Rescue outcome
Bravo was rescued after 50 hours, with US forces striking Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces near his hiding place.
## Key takeaway

US Air Force colonel 'Dude 44 Bravo' survived 50-hour ordeal in Iran after being shot down, rescued by US forces, and now smiles in a selfie.