The United States has a longstanding practice of never leaving an airman behind—a principle on vivid display during the extensive rescue mission this weekend.

The shoot-down of a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Warthog last week during Operation Epic Fury raised awareness for what is one of the most dangerous scenarios in air warfare. While often fatal, being shot down is survivable should several things break right for the pilot—including ejection, evasion, and rescue. Both recent incidents were resolved with successful rescues, highlighting both the brutality of air combat and the sophistication of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations. Nor is this the first time American pilots have suffered such an incident.

American Pilots Have Been Shot Down Before

The Vietnam War was rife with examples of US planes being shot down in enemy territory. In many cases, the pilots were deep inside North Vietnam, making their capture or death on the ground a foregone conclusion. The “fortunate” among these men were slated to spend the rest of the war in North Vietnamese captivity. Arguably the most famous of them was US Navy pilot and future US senator and presidential candidate John McCain, who spent six years in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison before his release in 1973.

Pilots shot down closer to South Vietnamese territory would sometimes have better luck. In one famous 1972 incident, “Bat 21,” an EB-66 Destroyer signals intelligence plane was shot down behind North Vietnamese lines during the Easter Offensive. The aircraft was especially sensitive because of the pilot, Lt. Col. Gene Hambleton, who knew top secret information. Hambleton was on the ground for 11 days; the rescue effort was massive, involving multi aircraft and a multiunit operation. Hambleton was ultimately rescued by Navy SEALs and South Vietnamese commandos in one of the largest CSAR operations ever conducted.

The United States once again grappled with the problem of rescuing downed airmen during its air wars over the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. In 1995, Captain Scott O’Grady was shot down in an F-16C by an SA-6 missile over Bosnia. O’Grady survived behind enemy lines for six days, eating insects and drinking rainwater. He avoided Serbian patrols before US Marines performed an extraction via helicopter. The incident served as the loose premise for the 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines, starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman.

In 1999, an F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft was shot down by a Serbian surface-to-air missile. While the F-117 is a stealth aircraft, the incident emphasized that stealth technology did not make a plane invisible; the Serbians were able to exploit predictable flight patterns and bring down the F-117, landing them a massive propaganda win. The pilot, Lt. Col. Darrell Zelko, ejected safely and was rescued within hours by US helicopters.

What America Can Learn from Shootdown Incidents

Historic shootdowns offer a handful important insights for ongoing US aerial operations.

First, they have decisively proved that technology advantages do not equal invulnerability. The F-117 was a cutting-edge stealth aircraft flying over Serbia, a relative backwater—yet was still shot down. Asymmetrical defense systems are effective against modern aircraft, as last week’s downing of an F-15E with a MANPADS handheld anti-air system reiterated. The lesson extends beyond shoot-down situations; for example, the US currently enjoys air superiority and significant tech advantages over Iran, but cheap, low-tech systems like drones, fast attack boats, and missiles have ensured that Iran can still be a persistent threat. 

Second, they show that survival training still matters. Military aircrews are subjected to SERE training where survival and evasion tactics are taught in an adverse environment. Hambleton survived for 11 days while enemy ground troops were hunting for him; O’Grady for six. The F-15E WSO recently recovered from Iran survived for 48 hours while being pursued through difficult mountain terrain. 

Third, they illustrate the importance of US doctrine—which holds that no one shot down will be left behind. CSAR commitments are adhered to, even at disproportionate risk. The recent rescue of the F-15E WSO was proof-positive, involving many aircraft and troops, even a CIA disinformation campaign. That the US is willing to go to any lengths to recover downed aviators is a source of encouragement and confidence for those tasked with operating behind enemy lines. 

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a writer and attorney focused on national security, technology, and political culture. His work has appeared in City Journal, The Hill, Quillette, The Spectator, and The Cipher Brief. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global & Joint Program Studies from NYU. More at harrisonkass.com.

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