Iran Hostage Crisis - Rare Crash Site Footage Reveals Secret US Rescue Attempt (1980)

On 28 April 1980, ITN's Jon Snow reported from the crash site in the Iranian desert where America's daring attempt to rescue 52 hostages being held in the US embassy in Tehran ended in fatal disaster. Operation Eagle Claw saw six helicopters and two transport aircraft deployed to a staging zone codenamed Desert One, over 400 miles from the Iranian capital. The mission was aborted at this initial stage, however, after the aircraft were caught in a sandstorm and encountered technical problems. Things went from bad to worse after American generals advised US President Jimmy Carter to abort the mission; while trying to leave Desert One, one of the few remaining working helicopters collided with a transport aircraft carrying servicemen as well as the fuel intended to supply the mission. Eight men died in the resulting fire, while the rest were hurriedly extracted. The failure of the operation was described by Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as an "act of God" in support of the Islamic Revolution. To the rest of the world, it was a humiliating failure for the Carter administration. President Carter himself saw the catastrophe as one of the main factors behind his election defeat to Ronald Reagan in November that year.
#Iran #IranianRevolution #Khomeini #JimmyCarter #USPresident #HostageCrisis #Argo #Hostages #SpecialForces #Crash #HelicopterCrash
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[@Londonechoes]

Thanks for sharing this Rare and Historic Footage!

[@FollowTheFreeman]

Bro this is absolute gold. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@richardgeorge3136]

I was onboard the Nimitz when the choppers departed for the rescue attempt.

[@precisiond2236]

Its been over 40+ years since I seen this. Wow

[@dusty7264]

And because of this the US military put together a special regiment to fly their special forces troops around. The 160th special operations aviation unit, only the best pilots are in it and they do most of their training at night.

[@frankeppenridge2027]

I have a couple of official photos taken on the Nimitz as they were prepped for take off. Was in Military Intelligence in the 80’s

[@FlorentinoRebuildingCo.5644]

I remember watching this on the news when it happened.
Who all remembers the news showing and describing "an American burnt wrist with it's wristwatch still attached"???
As an Iranian soldier held the burnt wrist for the cameras.
Never seen that footage ever again.
I believe the wristwatch was a Timex.

[@SimonWallwork]

And thus was created- The Osprey!

[@jonob3603]

The event that caused the US Military to go ahead with the Tiltrotor

[@timanderson5543]

2 of my squadrons helos were used in this attempt . They took the engine intake air filters off to save a little weight.sand in an engine is not a good thing.

[@mustlovedogs272]

About a year later, as Ronald Reagan was being sworn in, I mean, actually as he was being sworn in, the Iranians put all the hostages on a plane for home. Lol.

[@jrv5567]

And we continue to make friends around the world 🙄

[@mayc.onaise5649]

Mr magoo ass operation