Eerily reminiscent of Desert One mission under President Carter, only this time with successful outcome
After evacuating the second crew member of the downed F-15E, the U.S. had to destroy two HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft and two helicopters that, for unknown reasons, were unable to leave Iran.
The aircraft were blown up on the ground to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands after landing at an improvised refueling site.
Three additional HC-130J Combat King II aircraft were then dispatched to continue the combat search-and-rescue mission.
The wreckage of a U.S. MH-6 Little Bird helicopter was spotted next to the remains of HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft that were destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in Iran to prevent them from falling into IRGC hands. (h/t Clash Report)
The images are eerily reminiscent of the failed 'Desert One' Iranian rescue mission under President Carter in 1980, except this time, the mission was highly successful.
Below are images from the failed 'Desert One' hostage rescue mission under President Jimmy Carter in 1980 in Iran, where aircraft collided in the desert during nightime operations, which killed mulitple American personnel.
Today's U.S. Special Operations Forces were created and developed from the ashes of that failure.
It seems JSOC has exorcised the ghosts of Desert One.
