diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/ChangeLog b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/ChangeLog
index d0fc7026fb7..9e1305c7eac 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/ChangeLog
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/ChangeLog
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 	Moved testPostfixTypeIdExpression2() && testPostfixTypeIdTypeId2() to CompleteParseASTExpressionTest. 
 	Restructured expression reference tests so that the order of arrival will not cause JUnit failures.
 
+2003-09-23 Andrew Niefer
+	Added FunctionMethodPatternTests.testBug43498()
+
 2003-09-23 Hoda Amer
 	Added CompleteParseASTTest.testBug43373()
 	Added QuickParseASTTests.testBug43371()
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/search/org/eclipse/cdt/core/search/tests/FunctionMethodPatternTests.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/search/org/eclipse/cdt/core/search/tests/FunctionMethodPatternTests.java
index 4227b05981b..6341879e56a 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/search/org/eclipse/cdt/core/search/tests/FunctionMethodPatternTests.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/search/org/eclipse/cdt/core/search/tests/FunctionMethodPatternTests.java
@@ -140,4 +140,27 @@ public class FunctionMethodPatternTests extends BaseSearchTest {
 		matches = resultCollector.getSearchResults();
 		assertEquals( matches.size(), 3 ); //3 in classDecl.cpp
 	}
+	
+	public void testBug43498(){
+		ICSearchPattern pattern = SearchEngine.createSearchPattern( "operator ?elete", METHOD, DECLARATIONS, true );
+
+		assertTrue( pattern instanceof MethodDeclarationPattern );		
+		MethodDeclarationPattern methodPattern = (MethodDeclarationPattern) pattern;
+		
+		char [] string = new char[] {'o','p','e','r','a','t','o','r',' ','?','e','l','e','t','e'};
+		assertTrue( CharOperation.equals( string, methodPattern.getSimpleName() ) );
+		
+		pattern = SearchEngine.createSearchPattern( "operator delete", METHOD, DECLARATIONS, true );
+		assertTrue( pattern instanceof MethodDeclarationPattern );		
+		methodPattern = (MethodDeclarationPattern) pattern;
+		string = new char[] {'o','p','e','r','a','t','o','r',' ','d','e','l','e','t','e'};
+		assertTrue( CharOperation.equals( string, methodPattern.getSimpleName() ) );
+		
+		pattern = SearchEngine.createSearchPattern( "word?word", METHOD, DECLARATIONS, true );
+		assertTrue( pattern instanceof MethodDeclarationPattern );		
+		methodPattern = (MethodDeclarationPattern) pattern;
+
+		string = new char[] {'w','o','r','d','?','w','o','r','d'};
+		assertTrue( CharOperation.equals( string, methodPattern.getSimpleName() ) );
+	}
 }
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/ChangeLog b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/ChangeLog
index a0228fa6e16..3ec796b272c 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/ChangeLog
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2003-09-23 Andrew Niefer
+	fix bug 43498 Search with ? fails on first letter of second word
+		-modifications to CSearchPattern.scanForNames()
+		-add getSimpleName to MethodDeclarationPattern
+
 2003-09-19 Andrew Niefer
 	fix bug 43327 Code Complete finds local variables  
 	- modified MatchLocator to not report local declarations when boolean is set
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/CSearchPattern.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/CSearchPattern.java
index 446f01693e6..8fe3c8b647e 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/CSearchPattern.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/CSearchPattern.java
@@ -417,27 +417,37 @@ public abstract class CSearchPattern implements ICSearchConstants, ICSearchPatte
 			IToken token = ( unusedToken != null ) ? unusedToken : scanner.nextToken();
 			scanner.setThrowExceptionOnBadCharacterRead( true );
 			
-			boolean lastTokenWasWild = false;
+			boolean encounteredWild = false;
+			boolean lastTokenWasOperator = false;
 			
 			while( true ){
 				switch( token.getType() ){
 					case IToken.tCOLONCOLON :
 						list.addLast( name.toCharArray() );
 						name = new String("");
+						lastTokenWasOperator = false;
 						break;
+					
+					case IToken.t_operator :
+						name += token.getImage() + " ";
+						lastTokenWasOperator = true;
+						break;
+					
 					default:
 						if( token.getType() == IToken.tSTAR || 
 						    token.getType() == IToken.tQUESTION ||
 						    token.getType() == IToken.tCOMPL //Need this for destructors
 						    ){
-							lastTokenWasWild = true;
-						} else if( !lastTokenWasWild && name.length() > 0 ) {
+							encounteredWild = true;
+						} else if( !encounteredWild && !lastTokenWasOperator && name.length() > 0 )	{
 							name += " ";
 						} else {
-							lastTokenWasWild = false;
+							encounteredWild = false;
 						}
 						
 						name += token.getImage();
+
+						lastTokenWasOperator = false;
 						break;
 				}
 				token = null;
@@ -446,9 +456,10 @@ public abstract class CSearchPattern implements ICSearchConstants, ICSearchPatte
 						token = scanner.nextToken();
 					} catch ( ScannerException e ){
 						if( e.getErrorCode() == ScannerException.ErrorCode.INVALID_ESCAPE_CHARACTER_SEQUENCE ){
-							if( !lastTokenWasWild ) name += " ";
+							if( !encounteredWild && !lastTokenWasOperator ) name += " ";
 							name += "\\";
-							lastTokenWasWild = true;
+							encounteredWild = true;
+							lastTokenWasOperator = false;
 						}
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/MethodDeclarationPattern.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/MethodDeclarationPattern.java
index 9b77d0294fd..0e0afddd642 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/MethodDeclarationPattern.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/search/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/matching/MethodDeclarationPattern.java
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ public class MethodDeclarationPattern extends CSearchPattern {
 		searchFor = search;
 	}
 
-
+	public char [] getSimpleName(){
+		return simpleName;
+	}
+	
 	public int matchLevel(ISourceElementCallbackDelegate node, LimitTo limit ) {
 		if( node instanceof IASTMethod ){
 			if( searchFor != METHOD || !canAccept( limit ) ){