Shot down in Iran, hunted for 50 hours: Pete Hegseth explains how America brought ‘Dude 44’ home |US

Pete Hegseth has revealed the dramatic story of “Dude 44 Bravo,” an American F-15E pilot rescued after ejecting and landing deep inside Iran. Hegseth said the injured airman, suffering a broken back, arm and shoulder, climbed a mountain as an Iranian search party closed in. President Donald Trump then ordered the military to do whatever was necessary to bring the stranded pilots home. Bombers, fighters, special operators and intelligence teams joined what Hegseth called the military’s most complex search-and-rescue mission ever. How did U.S. forces reach Bravo before Iran did?