6 takeaways from our interview with the officer shot down in Iran

In April, five weeks into a costly and unpopular war, an American fighter jet was shot down over Iran, leaving two aviators stranded behind enemy lines.

The officers on board — a pilot and a weapons systems officer, who we are referring to by their mission call signs Alpha and Bravo for security reasons — ejected from their F-15E jet, call sign Dude 44, after it was hit by an Iranian missile.

The crewmates were then stranded miles apart in a mountainous desert region with Iranian bounties on their heads. What unfolded is considered to be one of the largest and most complex rescue operations in U.S. military history.

In his first interview, Bravo provided 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O'Donnell new details about his harrowing story of survival and the rescue operation to save him and his crewmate Alpha.

Bravo told 60 Minutes that the impact of the shoulder-mounted missile on their aircraft hit them like a "freight train" and that the catastrophic damage to American fighter jet was "evident." He credits his crewmate Alpha for saving their lives by reacting quickly.

"We do all we can to try to save the aircraft. It was evident that that wasn't possible. And soon thereafter, we ejected and found ourselves floating over the heart of Iran," he told O'Donnell.

"So within seconds, you're ejecting? That's how quick the decision is?" O'Donnell asked.

"It is… I will be thankful, to my dying day, for my pilot and crew mate, Alpha, for saving our lives and ejecting us," the weapons systems specialist said.

Bravo clarified that the F-15E will delay ejections by several seconds, putting some distance between the crewmen after they've landed on the ground to keep them safe.

Bravo acknowledged his fellow officers who maintained their aircraft, his equipment and his survival gear, saying everything performed better than expected despite damage by the missile.

"I want the airmen that worked diligently on the seat and on the equipment for our survival gear there to know… they did an incredible job," Bravo said.

"Despite the damage to the aircraft, to include the damage to my ejection seat, it outperformed the design specifications. And I call that a testament to their professionalism."

As if being shot down and ejecting weren't scary enough, Bravo's parachute was damaged when the jet was struck by the missile.

"At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen," he said. "So I paused, right then. And I prayed, 'Lord, your will be done. But if I'm getting through this, I need help.'"