Dana Duthie

Phantoms of the Shah Dana Duthie

A U. S. Air Force squadron of F-4 Phantoms is deployed to Iran to fly and train with the Iranian Air Force flying the same jets they had purchased from the U. S. The situation is tense, especially in Tehran, where the radical Muslim factions had grown in power. The Shah was out of the country and applying for asylum in America to treat his cancer. The opposition wanted him returned and they especially wanted the millions of dollars he had accumulated over the years. His government was hanging on by a thread. The flying from Shiraz Air Base in southern Iran was great training for the American pilots, but the situation got tense and it was time to go. Most of the jets got out, but one was left behind with maintenance problems and 14 personnel were left to tend to it and get it released. Brad Mitchell was the pilot tasked to fly the lame bird to Saudi Arabia. The opposition forces overwhelmed the Shiraz military that were friendly to the Shah. The 14 Americans were held hostage. President Carver authorizes a rescue operation, and though not without casualties, the AF personnel and the jet were recovered. The American Embassy in Tehran however, fell hostage to the Muslims as they overthrew their government.