Air Force Co Desert One
Air Force Co Desert One 46 AIR POWER History / SPRING 2009 ombat Controllers at e: April 24-25, 1980 Forrest L. Marion AIR POWER History / SPRING 2009 47 (Overleaf) A USAF n 1979, Iran was in the midst of an Islamic though I wasn’t briefed on what was going on…I MC–130E Combat Talon aircraft. I revolution. After thirty-seven years of rule think at that time I realized that this was for a big- that many Iranians characterized as secular, im- ger purpose than just training aircrew. moral, and repressive, a growing instability at the start of the year led the Shah, Mohammed Reza Wollmann became a frequent participant in Pahlavi, to flee to Egypt. Soon after, two million the exercises. Finally, while on the bus after one cheering Iranians welcomed a radical cleric, the scenario he cornered Colonel Kyle, the JTF Deputy Ayatollah Khomeini, as he returned from exile to Commander and the Air Force component com- become the country’s new ruler. Following Presi- mander, and said, “I know what’s going on…and if dent Jimmy Carter’s decision to allow the Shah to this thing’s going to go, I want in!” Even then, Kyle enter the U.S. for medical treatment, on November remained noncommittal, and it was some time 4, 1979, Iranian radicals stormed the American before Wollmann was designated a participant in Embassy in Tehran, taking some sixty Americans the operation.3 hostage. The resulting crisis would serve as the A key factor concerning the lengthy five-and-a- backdrop for a dramatic rescue attempt resulting half month period between the seizure of the in tragedy at a desolate Iranian desert site and embassy and the mounting of the rescue operation would end Carter’s chances for a second term.
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