This is a rare, if not incredible, incident in military annals. An American US Air Force pilot has reportedly become the first since the Vietnam War to be shot down twice within the same military conflict. In a span of less than five weeks, he ejected from two different F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, first following friendly fire in Kuwait and subsequently after being struck by an Iranian missile over Iran. As reported, US military personnel describe it as "like lightning striking the same spot twice."
The first one
The US Air Force pilot, whose F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bomber was shot down over Iran in early April, had already lost an aircraft during the current Middle East campaign. He was among the American aviators who were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. This specific pilot is likely the first in the US Air Force to be shot down twice in the same conflict since the Vietnam War.
Ejected twice
The American pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle who was shot down over Iran during the conflict in the Middle East had previously survived the loss of an aircraft due to friendly fire over Kuwait. This was reported by the website The High Side and the television network CBS News, citing sources. According to reports, this is the same airman, who within less than five weeks was forced to eject from his aircraft twice. It is "almost certain" that he has become the first American pilot to be shot down twice during the same military conflict since the Vietnam War. The name of the service member has not been made public.
Over Kuwait
The first incident occurred at the beginning of the war, when in the first days of March, three American F-15E Strike Eagles were accidentally shot down over Kuwait by friendly fire. All six crew members managed to eject and survive.
Target of Iran's air defense
A little more than 30 days later, one of the pilots who had ejected from his aircraft over Kuwait participated in a combat mission again, this time over Iran. On April 3, his F-15E was struck by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile.
Rescue operation
The crew ejected over Iranian territory, leading US armed forces to launch a search and rescue operation. One of the crew members was located a few hours after the ejection. The second was forced to hide from the opponent for nearly two days until he was rescued.
The praise
After the rescue of the crew, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, publicly praised the actions of the airmen. "The courage displayed by the pilot and the weapons systems officer when they found themselves isolated and attempting to avoid detection by the enemy cannot be overstated," he stated during a White House briefing. According to the general, their rescue was the result of both the training of search and rescue units and the endurance of the military personnel themselves.
"Like lightning striking the same spot twice"
The fact that the pilot shot down over Iran had previously lost an aircraft over Kuwait was initially revealed by The High Side. Later, two sources with knowledge of the two incidents confirmed the information to CBS News. The Pentagon referred reporters' questions to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which declined to comment on the matter. Retired US Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula told CBS News that he does not recall another instance where a pilot was shot down in two different incidents during the same military campaign. "It's like lightning striking the same spot twice," he stated characteristically.
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