Delta Force Operation "Acid Gambit" Hostage Rescue of Kurt Muse*

What happened in this episode?

In this short Mike Drop segment, host Mike Ritland speaks with an unnamed former US special operations soldier about the 1989 Delta Force mission known as “Acid Gambit” to extract US citizen Kurt Muse from Modelo Prison in Panama during the US intervention against Manuel Noriega. The guest says he was assigned as the breacher responsible for entering the prison via a rooftop annex, and that an intelligence report described a steel door leading down into the facility but did not mention a second “jail door” set in front of it, forcing an on-the-spot adjustment to his explosive charge.

He claims the mission was “compromised” before execution after a Marine allegedly called home from a landline, with the call intercepted and relayed to Noriega’s side, leading to heightened security. Because the 82nd Airborne had already put large numbers of aircraft in the air, he says the only feasible mitigation was shifting H-hour by about 20 minutes.

The guest recalls civilians gathering in the streets near the objective as preparations became visible. He describes breaching the doors in humid conditions where tape on the firing system would not adhere properly, then moving to extraction as Muse was taken to a helicopter. He alleges Muse’s helicopter took ground fire after diving off the roof for airspeed, was hit and crashed into the street, and that an armoured personnel carrier team recovered those on board. He says several troops were wounded in the crash while Muse was not.

What are the key points?

• Guest says he served as the breacher on the Delta Force mission to extract Kurt Muse from Modelo Prison.
• He claims pre-mission intelligence was wrong about the entryway, omitting a second door that required reworking the charge.
• He alleges the operation was compromised by an intercepted landline call home by a Marine, leading to increased enemy security.
• He says large-scale air movements by the 82nd Airborne limited options, leaving only a short H-hour shift.
• He describes civilians gathering near the target area as visible preparations drew attention.
• He claims Muse’s extraction helicopter took ground fire, crashed, and personnel were recovered by an APC team, with multiple troops wounded but Muse uninjured.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

Mike Drop

Published

6 August 2026

Duration

2m

Original episode

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