I did some research before making this post.,,
I guess it was seal team 6 that went in , got our pilot out safely,,
Same moniker that eliminated bin Laden.
Peg and myself were talking about who were the potential candidates for the extraction team… seals, delta force, rangers, green berets, etc
So many special forces teams in the best military in world!!
Phenomenal!!

Nice

Originally they had said there was a special team of Marines that were trained to do extractions like this. But, Seal team makes sense. They're all heroes.

Nope, the little known badarses of the Air Force. The PJs, aka ParaJumpers. I've met a few and they ain't to be trifled with they will go deep into the depths of hades to get their guy out. That and they pretty much got every other branch on call to get them what they need to get it done.

Watch some Nick Irving videos. He does a good comparisons of the Special forces. Very interesting.

United States Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) were involved in the April 2026 rescue of the F‑15E Strike Eagle’s weapon systems officer (WSO) in Iran.

The operation, part of a large combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission during the 2026 Iran war, began after the jet was shot down on 3 April 2026. The pilot was recovered earlier in the day, but the WSO escaped into the Zagros Mountains and was pursued by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces, Bakhtiari tribesmen, and even SEAL Team Six Wikipedia+1.

According to multiple reports, PJs and other U.S. special operations forces were part of the layered rescue effort to locate and extract the WSO The Post Millennial. The mission involved:

Hundreds of U.S. troops and dozens of aircraft across multiple branches Wikipedia+1.

PJs providing ground and extraction support, working alongside Army MH‑60M Black Hawks from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Task & Purpose.

Combat air support from A‑10 Warthogs and other platforms to suppress enemy forces and protect the extraction route abcnews.com+1.

Special operations commandos (including SEAL Team Six) to engage and disrupt Iranian pursuit forces Task & Purpose.

The WSO was eventually located, hidden in a mountain crevice, and extracted to a temporary airstrip set up by U.S. forces. The operation was described as one of the most complex and dangerous CSAR missions in U.S. history, with heavy enemy activity and destruction of some aircraft Wikipedia+2.

In summary, PJs were integral to the ground and extraction phase of the WSO’s rescue, alongside Army aviation, Navy, and special operations assets, ensuring the airman was brought out of hostile territory safely

I once heard PJ’s referred to as “firemen with guns”. They are extraction/rescue specialists. We think strictly of CSAR ( combat search and rescue), but they do it all.
The guys portrayed in “ A Perfect Storm “? They were pararescue guys.

The big earthquake that hit San Francisco? They were crawling through wreckage, rescuing trapped folks.

Only people I’ve ever heard of who will look at a map, memorize the route, and ‘go’ during a land navigation course.

I read somewhere there were 260 spec ops on the ground supporting this mission.

ol' dad

Firemen with guns is a good way to describe them. They don't get the attention other special operators get but have just as much if not more training. There was a cable tv show series about them a few years ago. I don't recall the name of it.

ol' dad

If it was the seals then down worry in about 3-5 years well have 5 books 30 pod casts and a movie telling you how everything went

Wellll, now I feel like a class one heel,, because I even googled it and had several responses saying it was the seal team that was responsible.

In all fairness the last few years the blame and say the seals do any and everything

Did some combatives at the gym on base with some AF dudes when I was in Kuwait all of them where super humble and chill , after like three weeks it came out they where headed out and they where all PJ's. Non of them had that smugness like your expect.

And yeah it's pretty cool the stuff they do as far as helping in disasters and civilian rescue operations. Read about how they will dair drop into storms to help out ships


Also gotta say they always look like there gonna drop a hard mixtape with the pictures they take

What happened to the c130 crew?

The C130s went in carrying equipment and personnel but the ground was to soft to roll out for a return so three smaller lighter planes came in to get everything and everyone out. Whatever was left that couldn't be gotten out was blown up with the C130s.

One day if you ask I can give you the lowdown. I happen to know a PJ very well who is over there. Actually a few of his comrades as well I’ve hunted with. Great guys.

Osky

Youtuber MaxAfterburner has a good vid about the rescue.

PJs get no glory nor accept any. There is no special op force more difficult to get into than PJs. I am talking complete training.

As a guy that never served I’m just glad we have these guys on our side. God Bless our Troops and Veterans!

wws

Hope so. I enjoy books written by former Seals. I love their self-confidence!