I remember waking up on 25 April, 1980 to news reports about an accident in the desert of Iran involving US aircraft and hints of a failed rescue attempt of American hostages.
You’ll often hear references to “Desert One” and discussion of a failed mission into Iran that occurred 46 years ago. That was the location of the aircraft accident which claimed eight American lives. The actual operation was named “Eagle Claw” although during planning it had been aptly named “Rice Bowl.”
On April 4, 1979 Iranian militants who would ultimately form the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Council, stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and in an act of defiance against international convention, seized the diplomatic staff as hostages.
Understandably, America wanted to do something about it. However, Iran is a vast country and getting a rescue force in and out of the heart of Tehran during a period of darkness proved impossible. The plan became quite complicated and every service wanted in on the action.
The plan included Marine Corps helicopters flying from a Navy aircraft carrier meeting Army assaulters in the middle of the desert on a landing strip set up by Air Force Combat Controllers. All along the way, the Air Force provided fixed wing lift to the task force including into the assault zone as well as a planned AC-130 gunship as overwatch for the exfil. There were even some men who had infiltrated earlier, under cover to help with the mission.
The C-130s carrying the ground force were to meet the Marine RH-53s at the Desert One landing zone during the night of April 24, 1980. Unfortunately, due to mechanical and environmental challenges, not enough of the Marine helos made it to Desert One to continue the mission. The ground force commander contacted the President via SATCOM with his recommendation to scrub the mission for at least 24 hours and attempt again. President Carter agreed and they began to prepare for the trip back out of Iranian airspace.
This painting adorns many a man’s wall who was present that night. It depicts the activity at Desert One before the accident. I have had the privilege of meeting many of those involved in this complex operation and they are some of the greatest Americans I know.
Disaster struck the task force. On that same night and on that same landing zone one of the helicopters turned into a C-130 serving as Forward Area Refueling Point setting it ablaze. The men sitting in the back of the aircraft quickly disgorged from the conflagration.
Not everyone survived. The fog of war claimed eight Americans in that accident. It is my hope that they are never forgotten.
Planning for a more audacious mission named “Honey Badger” soon followed but ultimately, the hostages were returned via diplomatic effort on the first day of Ronald Reagan’s Presidency.
The failed mission led to a review later that year, often referred to as the “Holloway Commission” due to its being led by former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral James L. Holloway III. The report from the Special Operations Review Group identified 23 key issues, citing poor command coordination, training deficiencies, and operational security as major causes for the failure.
Eagle Claw was a serious setback but like a phoenix, US Special Operations arose form the ashes on that strip of desert into a more focused enterprise which ultimately led to US Special Operations Command and the amazing capability we have today. Lessons were learned and over time applied. Congress thankfully also stepped in and nudged the military along.
I’ve offered a very short summary of the event to commemorate its anniversary. If you want to learn more about the planning and operation itself I can recommend four great books:
1.) “Delta Force” by Col Charles Beckwith
2.) “The Guts To Try” Col by James Kyle
3.) “Crippled Eagle” by Col Rob Lenehan
4.) “Phoenix Rising” by Col Keith Nightingale
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