Warrior Ethos in Action: DUDE 44 Bravo’s Incredible Story

For the first time, a U.S. Air Force officer shot down over Iran — mission call sign DUDE 44 Bravo — told America his story. In an exclusive 60 Minutes interview , Bravo delivered a powerful account of survival, faith, and combat leadership — a testament to the unmatched bravery of our nation’s warfighters and to the Trump Administration’s renewed focus on readiness, lethality, and standards. In April, after their F-15E Strike Eagle went down deep inside Iran, Bravo and his pilot, DUDE 44 Alpha, ejected — landing miles apart behind enemy lines. What followed was one of the most daring rescue operations in modern military history, culminating in Bravo’s Easter Sunday rescue . No American lives were lost and both aviators came home.