"A US F-15E fighter has been shot down over Iran, prompting a frantic US search and rescue effort for its two-strong crew, in the first such incident since the start of the war."
"Iranian state media released images of a tail fin and other debris early on Friday accompanied by an initial claim that a US F-35 had been hit by a new air defence system over central Iran and the pilot probably killed."
"Aviation experts said the wreckage pictured was in fact from a F-15E, from the US air force’s 494th squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, though it could not at first be confirmed when and where the pictures were taken."
"US officials familiar with the situation later confirmed off the record that an F-15E had been brought down and the Pentagon was scrambling to find the crew. There was no official comment from the US military about the incident."
For the sake of the F-15 pilot and their crew, let's hope that the Iranians are better about following the laws of war than how Whiskey Pete likes to mouth off[2]. More people endangered because the Trump's current administration thinks that war is just like 1980s' cheap Cannon action films.
Apparently now an A-10 has been lost as well. Cause unknown but the pilot is safe. Both crewmen from the F-15 and the helo crew also reported safe.
These losses may stem from moving to a more close air role with aircraft that aren’t stealthy, but it’s hard to say for sure. Whether we are engaging in more risky missions and/or Iran is learning to defeat our countermeasures, we might see an uptick in losses.
On my vacation, I read a fictionalized account of the Serbs learning how to down an F-117 (something that actually happened[1]) called "Maskirovka"[2]. While a fictionalized account, it basically recounted the method used (the author is basically a French Tom Clancy) and really poured cold water on the whole idea of short-range stealth bombers.
One comment: I wouldn't group Netanyahu in with Trump as to "no good explanation" or even "accidental" decapitation strike. Bluntly, Israel simply has different priorities and goals than the U.S., and Netyanyahu, and the Israeli government, are going to pursue their goals regardless of how it makes Trump look (for the most part). If a leader was killed that Trump wanted to deal with, Israel did not do it by mistake. Israel is more concerned with Lebanon and Hezbollah now than Iran, so I believe Trump is just stuck in a loop until we go to the next phase (which I believe has to be a ground war of some kind, if not outright marching to Tehran).
My thoughts on that. Israel owes the world nothing, nada, zip, zilch. To hell with "the rest of the world's expense" when Israelis decide what will keep their country in existence. The world hates Israel, with very few exceptions (the U.S. being one). So if Netanyahu, who is not the most scrupulous leader Israel has ever had, but certainly the most skillful politician, gets what Israel wants (and 90+% of Israelis, liberal or hawk, agree), then the world can eat their dust. Even Israelis who hate Trump have to admit he has not held back helping Israel.
I don’t think that attitude is good for Israel in the long term,. They were becoming more internationally accepted before 10/7. Now much of that goodwill has been squandered by their actions in Gaza. They’ve even lost a lot of support in the US.
Yes, Israel is a target in a very dangerous neighborhood, but their heavy handed response under Netanyahu bears a lot of blame for their unpopularity. He hasn’t even been very popular at home.
And Hamas is already resurging in Gaza as Israel focuses on Lebanon.
From when I’ve seen on the television, Lebanon is now looking a lot like Gaza. How many more innocents have to die so BiBi can stay out of jail? How many US soldiers will be killed and injured so Trump can stay in office?
"The world hates Israel, with very few exceptions (the U.S. being one)."
Just don't be surprised when that antipathy grows due to skyrocketing energy prices, the ascendance of China as a petro-power[0], dead US servicemen, a less stable Middle East, etc.
Maybe the reason the world isn't so keen on the Israeli nation is that when dealing with them, it's just "take, take, take". What does the rest of the world have to show FOR working with Israel?
I cited Netanyahu in my original post, because I believe that there's an alternate path with a more responsible Israeli leadership, and I wanted to distance the Israeli people from their corrupt[1] leader. The Israeli people should be wary about tying themselves to Bibi for precisely the same reasons Americans are starting learn to distance themselves from Trump[2].
But wait, there's more, trump's latest budget request is for 1.5 trillion dollars for military spending just hit the press. Of course, to pay for his antics, deep cuts across the social contract we have enjoyed for as many years as i have been on this earth.
Kudos to the "king of debt,' the guy who loves spending other people's money on his vanity projects. Who'd a thunk it...giving a demented old man the keys to the car and then wondering why he crashed into a crowd of American's hanging about watching his performance?
This isn't a reality TV show gang, this is our country, our lives and this tired old fool is dragging us all down. Thank God those massive tax cuts were foisted on the most wealthy, at least they'll survive while the rest of us and the world crash and burn.
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Threatening war crimes, dropping an f-bomb, showing that the Iranians aren't anywhere close to making a deal/just how desperate he is to get this to go away, and praising Allah - heckuva Easter morning message...
The problem is we don't have strategic thinkers at the helm, and our troops - and really the whole world - will suffer for it.
Are the American people ready to see FPV drone attacks on our troops? Are they ready to have to cut back on fuel usage, food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc...?
This war or excursion must get worse before it will be over. I am am not unhappy that Iran has bombed Amazon in Israel. Best outcome would be the evacuation of the Zionist and a new Palestinian State will be established. Although, how it is born will be with labor pains.
A US fighter-bomber was shot down earlier today:
"A US F-15E fighter has been shot down over Iran, prompting a frantic US search and rescue effort for its two-strong crew, in the first such incident since the start of the war."
"Iranian state media released images of a tail fin and other debris early on Friday accompanied by an initial claim that a US F-35 had been hit by a new air defence system over central Iran and the pilot probably killed."
"Aviation experts said the wreckage pictured was in fact from a F-15E, from the US air force’s 494th squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, though it could not at first be confirmed when and where the pictures were taken."
"US officials familiar with the situation later confirmed off the record that an F-15E had been brought down and the Pentagon was scrambling to find the crew. There was no official comment from the US military about the incident."
For the sake of the F-15 pilot and their crew, let's hope that the Iranians are better about following the laws of war than how Whiskey Pete likes to mouth off[2]. More people endangered because the Trump's current administration thinks that war is just like 1980s' cheap Cannon action films.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/03/us-fighter-jet-confirmed-shot-down-over-iran
[2] https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-demands-hegseth-clarify-no-quarters-comment-reaffirm-troops-have-duty-to-refuse-illegal-orders/
There's also some reports that one of the SAR helicopters was downed or otherwise went down - grain of salt and all that...
This seems like a pretty good site with a ton of updates:
https://www.twz.com/air/photos-of-f-15e-wreckage-emerge-amid-iranian-claims-it-shot-down-an-american-fighter
One of the aircrew is reportedly rescued.
Apparently now an A-10 has been lost as well. Cause unknown but the pilot is safe. Both crewmen from the F-15 and the helo crew also reported safe.
These losses may stem from moving to a more close air role with aircraft that aren’t stealthy, but it’s hard to say for sure. Whether we are engaging in more risky missions and/or Iran is learning to defeat our countermeasures, we might see an uptick in losses.
https://x.com/shashj/status/2040141360372633662?s=61&t=X6XxCDIBmdrPHrSiKT5oaQ
On my vacation, I read a fictionalized account of the Serbs learning how to down an F-117 (something that actually happened[1]) called "Maskirovka"[2]. While a fictionalized account, it basically recounted the method used (the author is basically a French Tom Clancy) and really poured cold water on the whole idea of short-range stealth bombers.
[1] https://theaviationgeekclub.com/an-in-depth-analysis-of-how-serbs-were-able-to-shoot-down-an-f-117-stealth-fighter-during-operation-allied-force/
[2] https://www.midshipnews.org/
I'm seeing one from the F-15 is still missing.
And finally rescued.
One comment: I wouldn't group Netanyahu in with Trump as to "no good explanation" or even "accidental" decapitation strike. Bluntly, Israel simply has different priorities and goals than the U.S., and Netyanyahu, and the Israeli government, are going to pursue their goals regardless of how it makes Trump look (for the most part). If a leader was killed that Trump wanted to deal with, Israel did not do it by mistake. Israel is more concerned with Lebanon and Hezbollah now than Iran, so I believe Trump is just stuck in a loop until we go to the next phase (which I believe has to be a ground war of some kind, if not outright marching to Tehran).
It's pretty clear that Netanyahu's getting exactly what he wants at the rest of the world's expense.
Looking forward to the reckoning when the dust finally settles.
My thoughts on that. Israel owes the world nothing, nada, zip, zilch. To hell with "the rest of the world's expense" when Israelis decide what will keep their country in existence. The world hates Israel, with very few exceptions (the U.S. being one). So if Netanyahu, who is not the most scrupulous leader Israel has ever had, but certainly the most skillful politician, gets what Israel wants (and 90+% of Israelis, liberal or hawk, agree), then the world can eat their dust. Even Israelis who hate Trump have to admit he has not held back helping Israel.
I don’t think that attitude is good for Israel in the long term,. They were becoming more internationally accepted before 10/7. Now much of that goodwill has been squandered by their actions in Gaza. They’ve even lost a lot of support in the US.
Yes, Israel is a target in a very dangerous neighborhood, but their heavy handed response under Netanyahu bears a lot of blame for their unpopularity. He hasn’t even been very popular at home.
And Hamas is already resurging in Gaza as Israel focuses on Lebanon.
From when I’ve seen on the television, Lebanon is now looking a lot like Gaza. How many more innocents have to die so BiBi can stay out of jail? How many US soldiers will be killed and injured so Trump can stay in office?
"The world hates Israel, with very few exceptions (the U.S. being one)."
Just don't be surprised when that antipathy grows due to skyrocketing energy prices, the ascendance of China as a petro-power[0], dead US servicemen, a less stable Middle East, etc.
Maybe the reason the world isn't so keen on the Israeli nation is that when dealing with them, it's just "take, take, take". What does the rest of the world have to show FOR working with Israel?
I cited Netanyahu in my original post, because I believe that there's an alternate path with a more responsible Israeli leadership, and I wanted to distance the Israeli people from their corrupt[1] leader. The Israeli people should be wary about tying themselves to Bibi for precisely the same reasons Americans are starting learn to distance themselves from Trump[2].
[0] https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/world-news/tanker-ships-must-pay-irans-revolutionary-guards-a-toll-in-chinese-yaun-or-crypto-before-they-can-pass-strait-of-hormuz-report/
[1] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-s-netanyahu-appears-in-court-for-79th-time-in-ongoing-corruption-trial/3837818
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-approval-hits-new-36-low-fuel-prices-surge-amid-iran-war-reutersipsos-2026-03-24/
But wait, there's more, trump's latest budget request is for 1.5 trillion dollars for military spending just hit the press. Of course, to pay for his antics, deep cuts across the social contract we have enjoyed for as many years as i have been on this earth.
Kudos to the "king of debt,' the guy who loves spending other people's money on his vanity projects. Who'd a thunk it...giving a demented old man the keys to the car and then wondering why he crashed into a crowd of American's hanging about watching his performance?
This isn't a reality TV show gang, this is our country, our lives and this tired old fool is dragging us all down. Thank God those massive tax cuts were foisted on the most wealthy, at least they'll survive while the rest of us and the world crash and burn.
Yes, it's that freaking bad.
Well this is totally stable...
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Threatening war crimes, dropping an f-bomb, showing that the Iranians aren't anywhere close to making a deal/just how desperate he is to get this to go away, and praising Allah - heckuva Easter morning message...
The problem is we don't have strategic thinkers at the helm, and our troops - and really the whole world - will suffer for it.
Are the American people ready to see FPV drone attacks on our troops? Are they ready to have to cut back on fuel usage, food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc...?
This war or excursion must get worse before it will be over. I am am not unhappy that Iran has bombed Amazon in Israel. Best outcome would be the evacuation of the Zionist and a new Palestinian State will be established. Although, how it is born will be with labor pains.