I was having trouble understanding how Iran pulled this off, until I read that Russia sold them an advanced manpad called a “9K333 Verba” last December. Uses 3 different sensors to distinguish a target from countermeasures and is effective up to 15,000 feet. Not ideal to be flying low in a country with a bunch of those wandering around.

A few of these 135’s can receive fuel midair and judging from the damage to the Beale 135 that landed, most likely a collision while refueling.

That was a wild, disturbing ride. Let me down a rabbit hole to John David Norman and his child abuse network. Prosecutors decided to settle for Norman instead of pursuing his client list, which included some high-profile individuals. Also connected to at least two serial killers.