Welcome to a heavy, packed episode of the Afterburn Podcast. Today, we are covering breaking news out of the Middle East, rapid tactical escalations, and a highly concerning mystery stateside.

We open today's show by addressing the tragic breaking news regarding the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker mishap in western Iraq. We discuss the known details of the mid-air collision during high-tempo Operation Epic Fury refueling operations, the inherent and often-overlooked dangers of nighttime tanking under combat conditions, and we honor the American crew members who lost their lives.

Next, we transition into our Day 13 update for Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. has unleashed the colossal 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). We analyze the strategic strike on the Parchin military complex outside of Tehran, a facility long suspected of nuclear weapon development. Despite the regime's efforts to harden the site, the deployment of the "Mountain Buster" proves there is nowhere to hide.

Finally, we close out the episode with the bizarre and unsettling news regarding retired Major General William Neil McCasland. We discuss the details surrounding his sudden disappearance from his New Mexico home, the active Silver Alert issued by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, and the wild speculation—ranging from his past command at the Phillips Research Site at Kirtland AFB to the resurfacing of old UAP and Roswell lore—that has taken over the internet in his absence.

00:00 Intro

01:56 KC-135

06:01 Day 13 Update

14:57 General MaCasland

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As many of you probably have noticed, we've been doing a lot more with news and defense analysis over on YouTube. Short 8-15 minute videos on things that are happening. It seems to be received well and has gained some traction. Don't worry, the "standard" podcast is still happening. I think it pairs well. But maybe its not for you...and that's ok.

https://www.youtube.com/@AfterburnPodcast

With this pivot, there's been a learning curve, and so it hasn't necessarily migrated across all the platforms. Some things just aren't quite easy to do, especially when I weave in traveling with hotel wifi. For example, you'll see I just shared the video.

That said, many have reached out asking to have this released in an audio format, so here it is, and we'll see how it goes. Let me know your thoughts.

00:00 Intro

01:19 F-15E shot down over Iran Debunked

15:55 Strike Eagle Shoot down Ground Video

24:00 UAE F-16 Shoots down drone over Dubai

36:50 Missing F-22 from the Middle East

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

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Mike "Dozer" Shower is a proven combat fighter pilot, having flown both the F-15C and F-22. He is an F-15C MiG killer from Operation Allied Force and one of the original eight pilots handpicked for the F-22 Raptor's initial operational test (IOT&E) at Edwards Air Force Base. In this deep-dive interview, Dozer provides a firsthand account of the transition from 4th-generation fighters to 5th-generation air dominance. We break down the YF-22 and the development of "offensive stealth," and the haunting story of the Raptor's original "Skynet" debrief system.

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial

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