Broken parachute, a freefall: US officer details rescue after Iran downed jet

That's the first message the Pentagon received from US weapons systems officer Dude 44 Bravo after Iranian forces downed his jet, leaving him stranded in its heartland.

What follows is an audacious rescue attempt, told by the US serviceman and officials for the first time.

In April, Iran shot down an F-15E jet, catapulting two US crew members "deep inside enemy territory".

While the pilot was rescued in a matter of hours, the jet's weapons systems officer, known as Dude 44 Bravo, was missing in Iran for nearly two days, scaling mountain ridges while "seriously wounded".

In an interview with US's 60 Minutes program, he detailed his experience evading Iranian bounties and surviving the rugged terrain without food or water.

Freefall into the heart of Iran

Bravo, who was only referred to by his codename, said the day began like any other until his F-15E jet, which costs about $US 30 million, was shot down by a shoulder-fired Iranian missile.

When Bravo and the jet's pilot, codenamed Alpha, were unable to save the plane, they decided to both eject.

As Bravo was "floating over the heart of Iran", he realised his parachute was damaged.

"That was the most terrifying thing I'd ever seen," he told reporter Nora O'Donnell, saying he had prayed to God to help him through.

Bravo estimated he hit the ground at a speed of 70 — 100mph (112 — 160km/h).

The impact left him with a broken back, arm and shoulder but somehow alive.

"[It was] a modern-day miracle," Bravo said.

"I believe it's a testament to God's provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn't prevent injuries but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive."

His pilot Alpha, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen.

The pair had fallen about 8 kilometres apart in the rugged Iranian terrain.

Badly injured and stranded in a valley surrounded by cliffs, Bravo mustered the strength to climb a 7,000-foot ridge line to avoid being captured by Iranians. 

On state television, Iranian authorities had already issued a bounty for both service members. 

"Never let a lack of motivation put you on Iranian TV," Bravo said of his determination to scale the mountain. 

Hegseth describes 'gunfight all the way in' and 'all the way out'

The 60 Minutes interview has been viewed by the Pentagon as a major opportunity "to craft the narrative around the Iran war which has becoming increasingly unpopular", according to CNN.

In particular, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been "unusually hands-on". 

The Defense Secretary was featured in the program, describing the moment he discovered the jet had been downed behind enemy lines.

"Probably s***," he said, when asked of his initial reaction.

"You always knew that was possible, so immediately it's to the next steps: 'Are they OK? Does Iran know that?'" 

US bombers launched strikes on nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members in a mission that included an additional 92 personnel. 

Those 92 represented the first US boots on Iranian ground in 46 years, Admiral Brad Cooper said. 

"It was a gunfight, all the way in and all the way out," Mr Hegseth said. 

The downed jet was later blown up by US forces to prevent it from falling into Iranian hands. 

Escape operation struck with engine failure 

After making first contact, Bravo was located with the help of CIA technology.

Bird helicopters then helped reach Bravo on the ridge line after more than 50 hours inside Iran. 

He was rescued by elite para-rescue service members known as PJs. 

"The moment a PJ showed up to me on that ridge line was one of the greatest moments of my life," Bravo said.  

While he said he would not share their first words to him, his were simple: "Let's go." 

The PJs moved him toward a secret rendezvous point before dawn.

But as they did, the two C-130 transport aircraft that had ferried in the 92 personnel suffered a mechanical failure and could not take off from the makeshift airstrip. 

Their commanders made a high-risk decision, ordering additional aircraft to fly into Iran to extract the group in waves.

"We had more than 90 of America's most elite service members on the ground, and our focus at that point was to make sure we got them safely out," Admiral Cooper said.

General Dan Caine said on the program that Bravo's jet had been conducting strikes on Iran's drone and missile facilities.

He said the number of personnel deployed for the rescue was worth it. 

"We would have sent more to go get the back seater."

As he thanked those who rescued him, Bravo said, "This is not a story about what I went through."

"It's a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, or the decisions, of the leadership," he said. 

"To do something that will live in history as a example of what America's willing to do in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind."