The pilot of DUDE 44 is almost certainly the first US Air Force fixed-wing aviator to be shot down twice in the same conflict since Vietnam. He survived both times. The first shootdown was friendly fire. The second was enemy. Both happened within five weeks. On 2 March 2026, three F-15E Strike Eagles of the 494th Fighter Squadron were shot down over Kuwait by allied air defences in the chaotic opening hours of Operation Epic Fury. All six crew ejected safely. Responsibility was later attributed to a Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet. Five weeks later, on 3 April, the same pilot was back in the cockpit when his Strike Eagle — callsign DUDE 44 — was hit over southwestern Iran by what is believed to have been a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile. What followed was one of the largest combat search-and-rescue operations since Vietnam.

Kuwait: Friendly Fire

The March 2 incident was a nightmare scenario. Three 494th FS Strike Eagles were conducting combat operations over Kuwait when they were engaged by Kuwaiti air defences. CENTCOM initially said the jets were “mistakenly shot down.” Days later, reporting attributed responsibility to a Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 Hornet. All six aircrew — three pilots, three weapons systems officers — ejected safely and were recovered. Some were helped by Kuwaiti civilians while awaiting rescue. The pilot of DUDE 44 was among those who walked away. He returned to flying duties almost immediately.

Iran: Enemy Fire

One month and one day later, at approximately 4:40 a.m. local time on 3 April, his Strike Eagle was hit over southwestern Iran. The aircraft went down in the Zagros Mountains. DUDE 44 Alpha — the pilot — ejected and was rescued roughly six hours later under close-range gunfire by a CSAR force that included HH-60W Jolly Green IIs and pararescuemen. DUDE 44 Bravo — the weapons systems officer — had a parachute malfunction and landed further from the crash site. His rescue took nearly two days, requiring a second, even larger extraction force. The operation ultimately involved 155 aircraft: 4 bombers, 64 fighters, 48 tankers, and 13 dedicated rescue platforms. A-10Cs flew the “Sandy” escort role. Two MC-130Js were deliberately destroyed after getting stuck on the ground. Four MH/AH-6 Little Birds from the 160th SOAR were lost.

Lightning Twice

The connection between the two incidents was first reported by The High Side on 2 June 2026, citing current and former Air Force officials. The Aviationist confirmed the story on 3 June. The pilot’s name has not been publicly released. Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula called it “a highly unusual coincidence — like getting hit by lightning twice.” President Trump, commenting on the April shootdown, said the Iranians “got lucky.” Lucky or not, the pilot of DUDE 44 has now ejected from two Strike Eagles in five weeks, survived both times, and reportedly returned to flying status. The Air Force does not appear to be grounding him. Sources: The Aviationist, Air & Space Forces Magazine, The High Side, CBS News, CENTCOM