The Disastrous Bid To End The Iran Hostage Crisis Raid 52

In April 1980, the world watched in anticipation as a daring rescue operation unfolded to end the prolonged Iran hostage crisis. Codenamed Operation Eagle Claw, this military endeavor was a last-ditch effort by the United States to free a group of American diplomats held captive for over a year in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran.

The Iran Hostage Crisis

The Iran hostage crisis began on November 4, 1979, when a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They demanded the extradition of the recently deposed Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was receiving medical treatment in the United States.

Operation Eagle Claw 1980: The disastrous bid to end the Iran hostage crisis (Raid Book 52)

by Justin Williamson (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	25917 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	120 pages

FREE

Subsequently, 52 American diplomats were taken hostage and held captive for 444 days. The hostages endured harsh conditions, including physical and psychological abuse, as the Iranian government sought to exert pressure on the United States.

Operation Eagle Claw: The Failed Rescue Attempt

Operation Eagle Claw was devised as a way to free the hostages and restore American prestige. The operation involved a night-time raid by U.S. special forces, primarily Navy SEALs and Delta Force operatives, who were to conduct a covert assault on a remote location near Tehran.

The plan was for a joint operation between the air and ground units. Eight helicopters were to transport the nearly 100 commandos to the target location, where they would rescue the hostages and escape back to safety. However, from the very beginning, the operation was plagued with difficulties and setbacks.

Problems from the Start

First and foremost, the operational planning and execution faced numerous challenges. The helicopters chosen for the mission were not designed with certain requirements in mind, and as a result, modifications had to be hastily made to accommodate fuel capacity and enhance stealth capabilities.

Additionally, unforeseen weather conditions in the deserts of Iran further complicated matters. Dust storms and high winds caused difficulties during takeoff and landing, reducing visibility and putting the mission at risk.

The Tragic Desert Collision

As the helicopters departed the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier on April 24, 1980, disaster struck. During the approach to the rendezvous point, one of the helicopters, a RH-53D Sea Stallion, experienced a mechanical failure and collided with another aircraft carrying a fuel-laden C-130. This tragic accident resulted in the deaths of eight American servicemen and the destruction of both aircraft.

Aborted Mission and Lingering Consequences

The collision forced the mission to be aborted, and the remaining helicopters were unable to continue. The operation meant to end the Iran hostage crisis had turned into a catastrophic failure. The hostages remained captive until their release was negotiated in January 1981, following the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.

The failed rescue attempt had significant consequences. It revealed the vulnerabilities and limitations of the United States' military capabilities, damaging American credibility across the globe. It also highlighted the complexities of undertaking high-risk missions in hostile environments.

The disastrous bid to end the Iran hostage crisis through Raid 52, known as Operation Eagle Claw, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who strive to protect and rescue individuals in peril. This failed mission had a lasting impact on U.S. foreign policy and military operations, prompting the need for further training, planning, and evaluation of risks.

Although the hostages were eventually released, the Raid 52 operation remains a tragic chapter in history, reminding us that even the most carefully formulated plans can falter under unpredictable circumstances.

Operation Eagle Claw 1980: The disastrous bid to end the Iran hostage crisis (Raid Book 52)

by Justin Williamson (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	25917 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	120 pages

FREE

Following months of negotiations after the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979, President Jimmy Carter ordered the newly formed Delta Force to conduct a raid into Iran to free the hostages. The raid, Operation Eagle Claw, was risky to say the least. US forces would have to fly into the deserts of Iran on C-130s; marry up with carrier-based RH-53D helicopters; fly to hide sites near Tehran; approach the Embassy via trucks; seize the Embassy and rescue the hostages; board the helicopters descending on Tehran; fly to an airbase captured by more US forces; and then fly out on C-141s and to freedom. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly given the complexity of the mission, things went wrong from the start and when the mission was called off at the refueling site at Desert One, the resulting collision between aircraft killed eight US personnel.

This title tells the full story of this tragic operation, supported by maps, photographs, and specially-commissioned bird's-eye-views and battlescenes which reveal the complexity and scale of the proposed rescue and the disaster which followed.