Two US aircraft shot down by Iran with one crew member missing

An F-15E Strike Eagle turns toward the Panamint range over Death Valley National Park, California (Ben Margot/AP)

One US service member was rescued and at least one was missing after Iran shot down two US military planes in separate attacks in a dramatic development in the war began nearly five weeks ago.

It was the first time US aircraft had been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the US has “beaten and completely decimated Iran”.