USAF / 33d ARS / HH-3E / Jolly Green Giant

This patch was only used for a very short time as the 33d Air Rescue Squadron was only active between Jun 1989 & Feb 1993. However this was a huge period for the Air Rescue Service as they'd had decades of under funding & now found themselves in a modern conventional war. After Desert Storm things changed for the better.

33d Air Rescue Squadron

Kadena AB, Japan

Woodland subdued Colour

1989-1993

 It’s the only regular Squadron patch I’ve seen & they didn’t use colour versions. Used by crews that operated the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant from Kadena AB, Okinawa. 

Manufactured by Tiger Embroidery & is partly embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge, backed with black hook & loop with the Giant in Dexter.

A Jolly comes off the wash pan & is pulled back to the flight line. Being close to the sea & operating with ships corrosion can occur, meaning that the aircraft have to be washed regularly to avoid corrosion.

(US National Archives)

33d Air Rescue Squadron

Operation DESERT STORM

King Fahd Airport & Ras al Mishab, Saudi Arabia

Desert subdued Colour

1991

This patch was made during 1991, for Operation DESERT STORM. Its odd as this patch wasn't made in theatre, but was manufactured in Saudi & is handmade by Korean embroiders (who came to Saudi) so each patch will be unique. Its a strange set up of Koreans going to Saudi Arabia for making patches, but have heard that other units patches were made this way. The feel is Saudi but the embroidery techniques look like Korean embroidery. The 33d had four HH-3's ready at Kadena AB, but didn't send any aircraft to participate in DESERT STORM (as there was a problem transporting them to theatre), but it did send a crew, comprising of a pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Engineer and a couple of Pararescue men. As the crew were qualified on the HH-3 the Squadron they supported was the 71st SOS who deployed to King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia with their HH-3's from Davis-Monthan AFB from the 12 January 1991 to 21 March 1991. Deployed to Ras al Mishab at Saudi Arabia, while there flew 251 missions.

DESERT STORM came at a really bad time for the USAF's Air Rescue Service, as a lot of Squadrons were transitioning from the elderly HH-3's to the more modern HH-60 Pavehawk, & with this transition brought squadron inevitable unavailability. So the 71st SOS with its HH-3's and 55th SOS with its HH-60's deployed to take part in the conflict. The 55th deployed as they were the first HH-60 unit to convert onto the Pavehawk.

The patch has an additional scroll on the top with DESERT STORM & is partly embroidered on twill with a schiffli cut edge & the Giant in Dexter.

Here are a couple of photos of HH-3's deployed for Desert Storm. They wore a desert camouflage, that consisted of brown and sand colours. The pictures show a PJ fast roping from a HH-3 and one waiting to take off from King Fahd. The HH-3 was given the nickname as the 'Pave Pig'.

(USAF Photos)

If you have any additional information about this patch or anything to add, for example, photos or stories, please contact me at

usafjollygreen@gmail.com 

I will get back to you.

Thanks👣