USAF 51st FW / Seventh Air Force / Jolly Green Patch

USAF 51st Fighter Wing / Seventh Air Force / Jolly Green Patch

This Gaggle Consists of (Clockwise from Top Left ) 36th FS, 25th FS, 38th RQS (Jolly Green) & 55th Airlift Flight from Osan AB, South Korea. Made in ROK, Circa 2017.

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USAF 102nd RQS / Flying Snake Patch

 USAF 102nd Rescue Squadron / Flying Snake Patch

This amazing and VERY rare patch was kindly donated for the collection by SSgt. J. Cerezo in 2018. This beautiful patch was inspired in the original 102nd Observation Squadron badge from 1920's era. The original insignia pin was made in sterling silver by Dieges & Clust. 

Original 1920's 102nd Observation Squadron Badge

The history of The 102nd Observation Squadron organized on March 22, 1921, under the command of Maj. Kenneth P.Littauer as the 102nd Squadron, 27th Division Air service, New York National Guard. The unit was redesigned the 102nd Observation Squadron on January 23, 1923. This squadron can trace its history back to a group formed by aviation enthusiasts in the NY National Guard in April 1908. They even raised $500 to buy an airplane. They became the 1st Aero Company on November 1, 1915, and became the first National Guard unit in aviation and to be pressed into federal service on July 13, 1916, for use in the Mexican Punitive Expedition. When the United States entered World War I, all National Guard aviation units were dissolved. New York's 1st Aero Company was no different and it was disbanded on May 23, 1917. The founder of the unit, Captain Raynall Cawthorne Bolling and almost all of the members of the unit left the National Guard to join the Army Signal Corps Reserve and in May 1917 founded the 1st Aero Reserve squadron. That unit was sent to France in August 1917 and designated 26th Aero Squadron. Its personnel and aircraft formed the basis for an aviation school and maintenance unit. After the war, a group of veteran pilots initiated the formation of an Aero Club, which became the 102nd. 

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USAF 3rd ARS / Det 1 / Korea Patch

USAF 3rd Air Rescue Squadron / Detachment 1 / Sikorsky H-19 / ARS-MATS / Korea Patch

This amazing historical piece came from a member of the United States Air Force A/1C Michael J. Carey Jr. from the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron from 1951-52.  The patch came attached to scrapbook that belonged to this Airman and consists of 230 photographs from 8x10 and smaller snap-shot photos.  There are 17 8x10 pictures, 3rd ARS basketball team, unit commander, etc.; 9 pictures of military aircraft; 191 personal military pictures and 13 home front pictures. The military personal pictures were taken at Lowry AFB, Co, Johnson AFB, Misawa AFB and Yokota AFB all in Japan and Seoul City Air Base Korea, these are of work areas; barracks life and off-base shots.  Aircraft pictures are of the SA-16, Douglas C-124 and the 3rd ARS Sikorsky H-5 and H-19 Chickasaw and one neat shot of the H-5 on the Palace Grounds in Tokyo (1951).  The best thing included in the scrapbook is the Japanese made Det. 1-3ARS Korea jacket patch with an H-10 flying over Korea. There is also the unit history,  "The 1952 Scramblier", 3rd Air Rescue Sq'n Japan-Korea 1944-1952. The 150-page hardcover book edited by Capt. Norman F. Williams and A/2C Calvin H. Holt and was printed in Japan in 1952.  The book is in excellent condition. These two books are being donated to the Pararescue Association and they will go to the Pararescue Museum at Kirtland AFB, NM.

From left to right, A/1C Mike J. Carey Jr. is the second in this picture and the donor of this patch.

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History: 40th ARRS / Jolly Green / HH-3E / HH-53 / Squatty Patch

40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron / Jolly Green / HH-3E / HH-53 / Squatty Patch

This is a patch that was made when one of the crewmembers of the 40th ARRS, the Pararescueman Larry P. who made this custom version with his nickname (Squatty). Larry was serving with the 40th ARRS at Udorn during 1967 and his group was the first one that brought the HH-53's to Udorn. This patch will have been made locally and as a one-off and I would like to thank Larry for sharing this to the collection.

PJ Larry "Squatty" P. in Udorn, Thailand. Circa 1967. The 40th ARRS was one of the crews that made the first rescue on this HH53B. Note the single parachute decal by the hoist. "When we first got to Udorn, Thailand so the HH53B's the maintenance crews were allowed to name their birds.  The maintenance crew named this one Big Berths. Shortly, and sadly, the Air Force made a reg that we couldn't name aircraft.  So the names on the helicopters were removed. The HH53B was named BUFF at first. The H3's were Jolly Greens. The Air Force again intervened and said we could not be known as BUFF because the B52 bombers were known as BUFFS. So the Air Force named us the Super Jolly Green Giant Helicopters." 

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USAF 40th ARRS / Jolly Green / BUFF Patch

USAF 40th  Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron / Jolly Green / Big Ugly Fat Fucker Patch

The 40th ARRS came to Vietnam on the 18 Mar 1986 at Udorn RTAFB with HH-3's & HH-53's. The HH-43 was added to the Squadron in 1971 until it inactivated on the 31 Jan 1976. The unit moved to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB on the 15 Sep 1975, before trading in the helicopters in Jul 1975 to operate HC-130's until its inactivation. The HH-53 also picked up the nickname BUFF, the same time as the monstrous B-52, also participating in the war in SEA. The 40th also operated 8 detachment through SEA with the local rescue HH-43 Huskies.

It doesn't get any more dangerous than this. Hovering a large helicopter over an injured downed crewman, while in hostile enemy territory. Dedication & bravery.

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USAF 33rd RQS / Jolly Green / OCP Patch

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Jolly Green / OCP Patch

Latest version. Made in Japan in 2019.

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USAF 83rd ERQS / OCP Patch

USAF 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron / OCP Patch

A VERY hard to find patch, kindly donated by my friend and fellow collector Michael Moore.

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USAF 129th ACS / Vintage Patch

USAF 129th Air Commando Squadron / California Air National Guard / Vintage No-Tab Patch

The patch is approx. 3" across; embroidery on black cloth. No tab on the bottom, as is seen in later SOS versions of the patch. VERY rare! Circa 1963/68'

The California Air National Guard's introduction to the world of special operations began when Air Force leaders decided to phase out active duty air commando units (Known as Air Resupply units) in 1954. Despite the decision, there was still a need to maintain a limited number of crews and aircraft to support unconventional warfare missions. After lengthy deliberations, the Air Force decided in 1955 to establish four special air warfare units within the Air National Guard: the 129th in California, the 130th in West Virginia, the 143d in Rhode Island, and the 135th Air Resupply Group in Maryland. The 129th Air Resupply Squadron was established in April 1955 as a new California Air National Guard unit with no previous United States Air Force history or lineage by the National Guard Bureau. Activated on 4 April at Hayward Municipal Airport, the squadron was assigned to the 129th Air Resupply Group. Allocated to Military Air Transport Service (MATS), and equipped with C-46 Commando transports. 

129th ACS SA-16A Albatross, AF Ser. No. 51-0025, circa 1965

The 129th was designated at the time as a "Psychological Warfare" unit which supported USAF unconventional warfare (guerrilla warfare), direct action (commando-type raids), strategic reconnaissance (intelligence gathering), and PSYWAR operations. The C-46 was supplemented by SA-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft beginning in 1956. The SA-16 (later redesignated HU-16) completely replaced the C-46s in 1963. Training for water landings with the SA-16 was extremely hazardous. To make matters worse, doctrine required pilots to land their aircraft on the water at night, with no landing lights.  

Ultimately, the 129th's mission included counterinsurgency, military civic action, psychological operations, tactical air operations, and unconventional warfare. In addition to blacked-out water landings, the SA-16 crews practiced pulling personnel from the ground by means of the Fulton Recovery System, which was "like bungee jumping in reverse." 

Reassigned to Tactical Air Command in 1963 and re-designated as Air Commando unit, following the revival of an active duty air commando unit at Hurlburt Field, Florida in line with President John F. Kennedy's initiative to bolster the United States military special forces during the early involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1963, the 129th participated in Exercise Swift Strike III, one of the largest military maneuvers since World War II. During the exercise, the unit not only flew a variety of special air warfare missions. Continuing its mission and training with the Active duty 1st Air Commando Group in Northern Florida, in 1968 HQ USAF directed all Air Commando organizations be re-designated as "Special Operations" units to be more descriptive of their mission. 

Rescue and Recovery

In May 1975 after the end of the Vietnam War, the mission of the 129th was realigned and the unit became part of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, Military Airlift Command. In 1980 the unit moved from Hayward to Naval Air Station Moffett Field. 

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the 129th Rescue Wing's mission is to train and prepare to perform its wartime mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. The 129th has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.

The 129th has been assigned to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003 by the Air Force Special Operations Command re-organized Air National Guard rescue units and created separate squadrons for fixed-wing, helicopter and Pararescue elements of the 129th Rescue Squadron. The HH-60G helicopter flight became 129th Rescue Squadron; the HC-130P Hercules flight become the 130th Rescue Squadron, and the pararescue flight became the 131st Rescue Squadron. 

The 129th RQS has been assigned to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in support of the Global War on Terrorism. 

Partial History

Activated 129th Air Resupply Squadron and Allocated to National Guard Bureau (NGB) on April 3, 1955

129th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1 November 1958

129th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium), 28 January 1962

129th Air Commando Squadron, 1 July 1963

129th Special Operations Squadron, 8 August 1968

129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3 May 1975

129th Air Rescue Squadron, 1 October 1989

129th Rescue Squadron, 16 March 1992

129th Rescue Squadron October 1, 1995 -

Assigned:

129th Wing ( see below for the Wing's previous designators )

Stationed:

Hayward Airport 1956 - 1980

Naval Air Station Moffett Field (later, Moffett Federal Airfield) 1980 - 

Aircraft:

C-46 Air Commando Transports

In 1956 the Group received Black-Painted Amphibious SA-16 (re-designated HU-16) Albatross aircraft

The C-46's were phased-out by 1962 leaving the Squadron flying HU-16s

SA-16 Albatross 1963 - 1968

C-119 Flying Boxcar 1968 - 1975

Cessna U-3A 1968 - 1975

U-6A Beaver 1968 - 1975

Ran a U-6 "Beaver" training mission for the USAF called "Lucky Tiger" for RVN bound personnel

U-10D Super Courier 1968 - 1975

HH-3E Jolly Green Giant 1975 - 1991

HH-60G Pave Hawk 1991 - Today

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USAF HH-53 / LNRS / Night Rescue Patch

USAF HH-53 Pave Low / Jolly Green / Limited Night Recovery System / Night Rescue Patch

This patch was one of those that was made strictly for Party Suits. Only LNRS System guys wore them and not many people had them in their party suits since they were quite scarce. This patch is quite rare and seen in NKP and McClellan during the Vietnam War. There's a possibility that this is a second edition from that era; hard to say... Circa 1971/78'. VERY RARE!

VN 1976 (L to R) Baylor Haines, Peggy Gilbert, Joe Gilbert, Gary Weikel, Bob Bounds and Bob Dube.

I'm not sure the difference between the LNRS and the Pave Spot and LORAN but I was told it was a challenging system to maintain. I can't give a definitive answer on the differences on these systems but I'm thinking that LORAN is over water navigation. The LNRS had FLIR, Fwd looking Infrared, Low-Level Light TV, TV Monitors on Pilot and Co-Pilot instrument panels, Automatic Approach and hover coupler integrated with the Airspeed indicators and Radar Altimeter. There was a Joy Stick whereas the FE can position the helicopter over the survivor's position while operating the hoist. It also had a DVD (Direct Viewing Device) like a Starlight scope for the hoist operator. That's the main features as I know.

In 1968, eight HH-53 B/Cs received the first of several modifications, called Limited Night Recovery System (LNRS), which incorporated a low light TV and a hover coupler. The B-model was an A-model airframe which Sikorsky separated into three sections to add the supports (struts) for the auxiliary fuel tanks. The tanks were needed to increase the range of the HH-53’s for CSAR duties in Vietnam. The C-model airframes already incorporated support for the aux tanks. As the Jolly Greens were conducting rescue missions in theater, the catalyst for the development of Special Operations Helicopters occurred to Air Force aircrews in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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