Who Is “Bravo”? 60 Minutes Iran Rescue Interview Identifies F-15E WSO as Colonel Jonathan Bott

The April 2026 F-15E shootdown over Iran

The incident described by CBS occurred during the U.S. war with Iran.

According to CBS, the F-15E Strike Eagle, operating under the callsign Dude 44, was conducting a mission near a mountainous region south of Isfahan. The area was strategically significant because of Iranian military and nuclear-related infrastructure.

The aircraft was reportedly struck by a shoulder-fired missile.

For the two airmen aboard the aircraft, the situation changed almost instantly.

Bravo described the impact as being comparable to being hit by a freight train.

The crew recognized that the aircraft was catastrophically damaged and that they needed to eject.

The F-15E’s ejection system separated the crew members during the process, meaning the two men did not necessarily land together.

That proved critical.

The pilot, Alpha, was recovered relatively quickly.

Bravo was not.

He was alone in mountainous Iranian territory.

And, more importantly, his parachute had been damaged during the attack.

September 15, 2026 | 9:19 am