USAF / 305th RQS / HH-60G / Jolly Green Giant

305th Rescue Squadron

Davis-Monthan AFB

Full Colour

1990's

The Squadron was originally formed in Jan 1966 as the 305th ARRS, before becoming the 305th ARS in April 1990 & then the 305th RQS in February 1992, all while they were based at Selfridge. The unit then moved to Davis-Monthan in 2018 & still operate its HH-60G's from the Arizona base.

Partly embroidered on twill with a paper backing covering the pigtail, a merrowed edge with the Giant in Dexter.

Crews relax while waiting for clearance for take off.

(USAF photo/Senior Airman Christina Ponte)

305th Rescue Squadron

Arizona State Flag

Davis-Monthan AFB

Full Colour

c.2016/2017/2020

This is probably the most colourful Jolly shield patch around, which depicts the Arizona State flag & there are three very different versions spanning about four years. The photo above shows all of the colour versions so its easy to compare them. Descriptions are below plus a photo of a crewman wearing one.

Left: This was made c. 2016 from Tiger Embroidery in Japan & is used by the Squadron as their Friday night patch. There are three colour versions of the Arizona Flag patch and this was the first one that was made.

As always the patch has the added attention of a Tiger manufactured patch & is partly embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge & a taped down pigtail with the Giant in Dexter.

Middle: This patch was made during 2017, and was obtained direct from the unit which is based at Davis-Monthan. The flag is the state flag of Arizona, and is the second patch that the unit has had made with the flag in the background, this one being a US made version, manufactured by Emblem Enterprises in Van Nuys, CA.

Right: You can tell the difference due to the patch being fully embroidered, the first version wasn't. Backed with hook & loop with the Giant in Dexter.

This is the latest version (the third version) of the incredibly colourful Squadron patch. This version was made in 2020 in the US, and is fractionally smaller than the other versions made the patch being manufactured by Emblem Enterprises of Van Nuys, CA.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook & loop with the Giant in Dexter.

Here a HH-60G is unloaded from a C-17A while taking part in RIAT at RAF Fairford on the 13-15 July 2018.  During RIAT it won best in show on the static display & is the actual helicopter took part in Operation Red Wings II picking up the lone survivor Marcus Luttrell.

(A. Richardson)

305th Rescue Squadron

Arizona State Flag

Davis-Monthan AFB

OCP Colour

2019

One of the most colourful patches subdued. This is the patch from the 305th RQS, who have designed this Friday patch in 2019 with the Arizona State flag, but in the new OCP colours. This was one of the first OCP patches made by a Jolly Green unit.

This is very difficult to find, and is fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook & loop with the Giant in Dexter.

A pair of HH-60G's sit in the sun waiting for the crews.

(USAF Photo)

305th Rescue Squadron

EL JOLLY

Davis-Monthan AFB

Full Colour

2022

An absolutely superb design for a Friday night patch, this design is taken from the Mexican card game Loteria. Made during 2022 when the Squadron was early into transitioning onto HH-60W from the 

HH-60G.

If you have any additional information about this patch please contact me & I´ll get back to you.

Thanks👣