Scott O’Grady: Viper Pilot Shot down over Bosnia

Survived 6 days evading enemy troops till rescued

Scott O’Grady was piloting his F-16C fighter over Bosnia when a missile battery targeted his plane. The first missile exploded between him and his wingman but the second one broke his F-16 in half. Managing to eject from the front half of his plane, he landed in enemy territory and began his week-long game of cat and mouse with the Bosnian Serb troops hunting him. He ate various plants and bugs to keep alive while evading the enemy, always managing to stay out of sight. At one point the Serbs sprayed machine gun fire around to flush him out but he kept his head until he was rescued on day 6 by the marines in CH-53 helicopters. His survival story later became a film “Behind Enemy Lines” which was loosely based on his exploits.

He remains a modern day hero of the survival and ingenuity of American fighter pilots. Valor is in you. Set it free.