Sam Johnson Chapter Hosts National Defense Briefing Series Featuring Historic Bosnia Rescue

June 29, 2026

Nearly 31 years to the day after one of the most remarkable combat search and rescue operations in modern military history, the Sam Johnson Chapter 232 of the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) joined four partner organizations in presenting a National Defense Briefing Series program featuring the men directly involved in the rescue of then-Capt. Scott O’Grady.

The June 7 event brought together O’Grady, Capt. T.O. Hanford, USAF (Ret.), and Capt. Jim “Lefty” Wright, USMC (Ret.), to share their firsthand experiences from the June 1995 rescue operation in Bosnia during NATO’s Operation Deny Flight.

The National Defense Briefing Series is a collaborative effort jointly sponsored by five Dallas-area military and veteran organizations: AFA’s Sam Johnson Chapter 232, the Navy League, the Association of the U.S. Army, the Military Order of the World Wars, and the Jewish War Veterans.

The quarterly, nonpartisan program educates citizens on national security issues, encourages informed discussion with subject matter experts, and supports veterans and first-responder charities.

O’Grady recounted the events of June 2, 1995, when his F-16 Fighting Falcon, call sign “Basher 52,” assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, was shot down by a Serbian surface-to-air missile over Bosnia. For six days, he survived behind enemy lines while evading hostile forces and awaiting rescue.

Hanford, then assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base and flying as “Basher 11,” described the critical moment on June 8 when he detected O’Grady’s faint radio transmissions while nearing fuel limits and under pressure to return to base. His decision to continue searching helped initiate the rescue effort.

Adding a unique perspective, Wright, a CH-53E Sea Stallion pilot with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS Kearsarge in the Adriatic Sea, detailed the execution of the high-risk rescue mission that successfully recovered O’Grady from hostile territory.

Capt. Scott O’Grady, a former 555th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot, shares his story of survival and rescue after being shot down over Bosnia as “Basher 52” during Operation Deny Flight in June 1995, at the National Defense Briefing Series event “The Rescue of Basher 52” in Fairview, Texas. Photo by Colin Kimble.
From left, Capt. Scott O’Grady; Capt. T.O. Hanford (“Basher 11”); and Capt. Jim “Lefty” Wright during the panel discussion. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Nugent, USAF (Ret.).
From left, Capt. Scott O’Grady (“Basher 52”), Capt. T.O. Hanford (“Basher 11”) and Capt. Jim “Lefty” Wright, pilot of the CH-53E helicopter that recovered O’Grady, share firsthand accounts of the June 1995 rescue. Photo by Colin Kimble.
From left, Capt. Scott O’Grady; Capt. T.O. Hanford (“Basher 11”); and Capt. Jim “Lefty” Wright during the panel discussion. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Nugent, USAF (Ret.).

The program, moderated by Lt. Gen. John Campbell, USAF (Ret.), former 31st Fighter Wing commander, marked a rare joint appearance by O’Grady and Hanford. While both have shared their experiences individually over the years, opportunities to hear the synchronized perspectives of the survivor on the ground and the pilot who helped locate him are uncommon. The addition of Wright’s account provided attendees with a comprehensive view of the operation from air, ground, and rescue force perspectives.

The presentation highlighted the courage, professionalism, and teamwork demonstrated by Air Force and Marine Corps personnel during one of the most celebrated personnel recovery missions of the post-Cold War era.

The National Defense Briefing Series provides North Texas audiences with direct access to military leaders, veterans, and subject matter experts while strengthening public understanding of issues affecting national defense and security.