Images Emerge of Downed US Aircraft in Central Iran
The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran announced on Sunday, April 5, that that Iranian military forces have destroyed several US aircraft in southern Isfahan, thwarting an attempted mission to rescue a downed American fighter pilot.
US special forces rescue second F-15E airman, two C-130s destroyed on ground
During the operation, two C-130 aircraft, presumably of the MC-130J special operations version, had to be destroyed by US forces after they got stuck on an unpaved field and were unable to take off. Two MH-6 Little Bird light helicopters may have also been destroyed in the same action.
US pilot rescued in Iran in ‘miraculous’ operation: Trump
US President Donald Trump yesterday said that US forces had safely recovered a second pilot downed in Iran, calling it one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history.
And from a MAGA rag.
Got Him! Weapons Systems Officer Rescued After F-15E Shot Down
A Colonel serving as a Weapons Systems Officer in the F-15E that was shot down in Iran on Good Friday, was rescued in a daring operation. The first pilot was rescued immediately. The Weapons System Officer was another story entirely. He had to climb- while injured – around 7000 feet to a ridge away from the crashed aircraft. Daring is a word you could use, but it is woefully understated.
As far as MAGA is concerned, glory was had.
There is something fishy about planes destroyed on the ground because they did not have room to take off. How did they land? And nobody got hurt in any of this. Helicopters lost? I hope they find them!
This is very hard to believe.
THE MISSING LINK: HELICOPTER CREWS AND UNACCOUNTED CASUALTIES
Destroyed helicopters (MH-6 Little Birds) and transport planes (MC-130Js) require crews. The official "zero casualty" claim does not explain where those crews went. Captured, killed, or evacuated, without explanation we have a few possibilities here.
- Four MH-6 Little Birds destroyed — each requires 2 pilots (approx. 8 personnel unaccounted for)
- Two MC-130Js destroyed on ground — each requires approx. 5 crew (approx. 10 personnel unaccounted for)
- U.S. government states "zero killed or wounded" but does not explicitly state all crews were evacuated
- Iranian and Yemeni media report U.S. casualties (9 killed, 7 injured) — unverified by U.S. sources
- Fox News and CBS News initially reported "several special forces members injured" — later downplayed
- Possible explanations:
- Crews evacuated by three replacement C-130s before destruction (unconfirmed)
- U.S. defining "casualty" narrowly as "killed in action," excluding wounded
- Casualties occurring but not yet disclosed to public
- Crews captured by Iranian forces — no evidence provided by Iran
- Crews evacuated by three replacement C-130s before destruction (unconfirmed)
Conclusion: The "zero casualty" claim is mathematically possible only if every crew member was safely extracted before their aircraft was destroyed. No source has confirmed this evacuation occurred.
Eighteen missing crew members is not the same thing as loosing track of people in a shopping mall. But it seems I may be the only one who thinks this way.