The news that the United States successfully rescued a pilot two days after an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace drew global attention. Above all, the U.S. mobilized hundreds of elite special operations forces, dozens of aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cyber and space assets in a military operation to find the missing pilot, drawing admiration worldwide.
What was even more remarkable, however, was the survival story of the injured Air Force officer. He concealed himself in mountainous terrain and evaded Iranian forces for nearly 36 hours while awaiting rescue. The U.S. military also deployed air assets to strike and block Iranian forces from approaching the officer's hiding position, while the rescue team engaged Iranian troops in combat to extract him in a dramatic operation.
Global media focused on the single pistol that the rescued Air Force officer reportedly carried. Fighter pilots typically carry a sidearm for self-defense when deployed on missions. In cases like this, where the aircraft is shot down, the pilot must protect himself with just a pistol until rescue arrives. The world's media took note because surviving behind enemy lines with only a pistol is nearly impossible.
However, there is a fact that needs correcting in the reporting on this rescue. The rescued U.S. Air Force pilot was carrying a rifle, not a pistol. The U.S. Air Force has been issuing 5.56mm rifles instead of pistols to pilots and other aircrew members since 2018. The Air Force invested $2.6 million (approximately 4 billion won) to purchase and distribute 2,700 rifles.
Previously, U.S. military pilots carried pistols in case they were shot down and crashed behind enemy lines. Long-barreled weapons like rifles were difficult to carry in cramped cockpits. However, the Air Force began issuing rifles after the Islamic State (IS), a Sunni militant group, captured a downed Jordanian Air Force pilot in February 2015 and burned him alive in a cage.
