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Pilot Shot Down Twice by Chinese Missile Returns, Bombs Tehran

6/3/2026

30 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The unnamed F-15E pilot became the first aviator since Vietnam shot down twice.
U.S. investigators said the missile that downed his jet over Iran was likely Chinese-made.
On March 2 Kuwait’s defense forces mistakenly fired on three U.S. F-15E jets, forcing ejection.
The pilot was rescued on April 3 after his aircraft was hit.
Four weeks later he returned to bomb Tehran, a feat Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised.

History

Historical Context

In 1972 North Vietnamese surface-to-air missiles shot down U.S. F-4 Phantoms, the first jet losses of the Vietnam War. North Vietnam’s air defense included 36 SA-2 missile battalions, making SAMs a persistent danger. The conflict saw the USAF lose 2,251 aircraft, most to SAMs and antiaircraft fire. Today’s double shoot-down echoes that historic threat.

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Story summary

The unnamed F-15E pilot became the first aviator since Vietnam shot down twice.
U.S. investigators said the missile that downed his jet over Iran was likely Chinese-made.
On March 2 Kuwait’s defense forces mistakenly fired on three U.S. F-15E jets, forcing ejection.
The pilot was rescued on April 3 after his aircraft was hit.
Four weeks later he returned to bomb Tehran, a feat Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised.

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