The Congressional Research Service tally of 42 U.S. aircraft lost or damaged during the 40-day Operation Epic Fury against Iran reveals far more than a simple accounting error—it unmasks systemic vulnerabilities in American airpower projection that mainstream reporting has largely ignored. Beyond the documented friendly-fire incidents, such as the Kuwaiti F/A-18 downing three F-15Es, and the seven KC-135 tankers hit by Iranian strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base, the losses highlight an over-reliance on vulnerable platforms in contested environments. Drones bore the brunt with 25 MQ-9 Reapers and one MQ-4C Triton destroyed, underscoring how even 'standout' unmanned systems falter under integrated air defenses, as noted by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach. Gaps in the CRS report are telling: multiple sources, including a May 7 Washington Post account and imagery analysis from Air & Space Forces Magazine, indicate the E-3 Sentry was likely a total write-off rather than merely damaged, reducing the already thin fleet of 16 airframes. Similarly, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine's April 6 briefing and reporting from The Aviationist suggest at least two HH-60W helicopters were hit during rescue ops, not one. Most critically, the omission of two to four AH/MH-6 Little Birds from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment—intentionally destroyed during the same forward airstrip evacuation—points to hidden special operations costs that could erode future CSAR capabilities. Synthesizing these with patterns from prior conflicts, such as drone attrition in Ukraine and tanker strains observed in CENTCOM exercises, the minimal follow-up coverage signals a Pentagon reluctant to confront mission effectiveness in peer-level fights. This invites congressional scrutiny on force structure, as the campaign's 'success' metrics obscure the unsustainable attrition rate against Iranian missile and drone salvos.