Operation Eagle Claw: April 24th, 1980

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Ace of Spades

 

Operation Eagle Claw: April 24th, 1980

Commenter Ryan reminded me that yesterday was the 32nd anniversary of the failed Iranian hostage rescue. Just one of the many reason I keep a torch of hate in my heart for Jimmy Carter and the Iranians.

Under the cover of darkness, eight navy helicopters were to fly from the U.S.S. Nimitz, based in the Arabian Sea, to "Desert One," a secret staging area in central Iran picked by the CIA, where they were to meet up with U.S. Delta Forces aboard three C-130 transport planes flying in from Oman. Another three C-130 transport planes carrying 18,000 gallons of fuel for the helicopters were also supposed to land at Desert One. The eight Navy helicopters would then refuel and fly the Delta Forces to "Desert Two," another spot about 50 miles south of Teheran, where they would conceal the helicopters and hide out during the day.

Eagle Claw only got as far as Desert One when disaster struck. On the night of April 24, 1980, a dust storm (haboob) forced one of the eight Navy helicopters

 

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Posted by Maetenloch at 10:07 pm