How did America manage to rescue two airmen after their plane was shot down over Iran? In this bonus bank holiday episode, Venetia Rainey is joined by Jack Murphy, ex-US special forces who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including as a Green Beret. He is now a journalist and military commentator and hosts The Team House national security podcast. He broke the story that the weapons systems officer (WSO) from the downed F-15E had been rescued alive after 36 hours stranded behind enemy lines. Jack provides a unique insight into the dramatic double rescue mission – already being described as the most complex in American military history. He explains the initial search and rescue (CSAR) efforts, what the WSO would have been doing to survive on the ground, and why the US abandoned and blew up two multimillion-dollar aircraft at a remote desert airstrip.
CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey Jack Murphy, ex-special forces and host The Team House @JackMurphyRGR Producer: Louisa Wells Executive Producer: Louisa Wells