USAF / 41st RQS / HH-60G / Jolly Green Giant

The 41st Rescue Squadron have been operational from 1993 so have had a long time to make quite a variety & variations of their Jolly Green patches, so this is quite a large section. Gauging as they were the first Squadron to receive the HH-60W Jolly Green II they'll continue for a while yet.

41st Rescue Squadron

Patrick AFB

Full Colour

1990's

This is a standard patch that has been worn by the Squadron during it time when it was based at Patrick AFB, between 1989 to 1997.

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

A crewmember completes the mandatory paperwork before the flight, & can be seen wearing the patch above.

(USAF photo)

41st Rescue Squadron

Glow In The Dark

Patrick AFB

Full Colour

1990's

This patch glows in the dark as its been made with luminescent thread. One of the units roles was to support the NASA Space Shuttle program along with SAR duties. This can be found at Flightline Insignia. 

This is a fully embroidered patch with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

2004 Mackay Trophy winners

Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 crewmembers distinguished themselves by gallantry in connection with rescue operations near Kharbut, Iraq, on April 16, 2004. On this date, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Jolly 11 Flight launched to rescue a five person crew of a U.S. Army CH-47 that crashed in a sandstorm with near zero visibility. En route to the crash scene, crews realized their forward looking infra-red and night vision goggles were ineffective. Continuing to use each crewmember to their fullest degree, Jolly 11 Flight was able to locate the survivors. Both aircraft then made near zero visibility approaches relying nearly exclusively on the flight engineers and aerial gunners inputs for precision navigation. Following the successful survivor contacts and recovery by the Flight’s Pararescuemen, Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 were individually engaged by separate multiple surface-to-air missiles attacks. Using evasive maneuvers and working as a fine-tuned, combat seasoned team, Jolly 11 evaded two missiles. Both Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 continued to provide mutual wingman support with defensive fire until the formation was clear of the threat area saving the lives of five U.S. Army personnel. Their gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

  Jolly 11 Crew
    1Lt Bryan Creel
     Capt Joseph Galletti
     Sgt Thomas Ringheimer
     SSgt Vincent J. Eckert
     SSgt John Griffin
     SSgt Patrick Ledbetter

  Jolly 12 Crew
     Capt Rob Wrinkle
     1Lt Gregory Rockwood
     TSgt Michael Preston
     TSgt Paul Silve
     SSgt Matthew Leigh
     SSgt Michael Rubio
     SrA Edward Ha

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2018

This patch is a new version made c.2018 & has the different design of having 41st RESCUE on the patch, no other designs to this date had this on.

Partly embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2018 

This patch was made for the 41st RQS dated 2018.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

The following four patches are really similar however they have subtle differences.

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2022

This is the patch on the left and can be identified to other variations as the Giants boots are the same colour as the Giant. This variant was the same as the IP version (below) just a different coloured edge.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge backed with hook and loop.

This patch is one worn by the Squadron c. 2016 and is one of numerous designs made for the unit. You can see the feet are darker green, so its easy to identify this version.

41st Rescue Squadron

IP patch/Instructor Pilot

Moody AFB

Full Colour

2013/14

(USAF Photo/A1C Taryn Butler)

The second from the left dates to 2013/14 and was made for IP's (Instructor Pilots, gunners & FE's) so new crew joining the Squadron knew who the experienced crews were, & who may be able to help them out when they had some questions.

The idea came from Chief Callahan in 2011/12, who ran it past the Squadron Commanding Officer Lt Col. Jeremy Turner who in turn approved the idea, the information coming from Matthew Lowe who was the Squadrons DO & in the office at the same time the idea was sparked. They also wanted a distinction of instructor cadre & give a motivator for guys to become instructors after getting flight experience.
The difference between this & a normal Squadron patch is that it has a black merrowed edge, other patches used on the squadron are green edged. The photograph above shows a crewman wearing the patch, planning a mission in August 2020.
The 41st was the first to come up with the idea of the black edged IP patches, so its certainly a big part of the Jolly Green Giant Legacy.
This patch is fully embroidered with a merrowed edged, backed with hook & loop with the giant in Dexter.

A huge thanks to Kevin for helping me out & Matthew for the information about the history of the patch.

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2016

U

41st Rescue Squadron

IP patch/Instructor Pilot

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2022

This is the second version the Squadron has used & was made c.2022. Comparing it to the original it is much larger & is completely different in design. Also the scroll line is green instead of black.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter. Its seen here being worn by a crewman in  Sep 2023 while flying the HH-60W. (USAF Photo by A1C Whitley Gillespie)

The 5th November 2020 saw the dawning of a new era for the Jolly Green Giant legacy when the 41st Rescue Squadron received the first two HH-60W's, replacing the HH-60G.

(USAF Photo/Andrea Jenkins)

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2020

This patch was made for the 41st RQS during 2020 by Aviation Gear.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge with the giant in Dexter.

If you have one of these patches you'd be willing to sell, trade or donate, please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you.

41st Rescue Squadron

Patrick AFB

Woodland Subdued Colour

1990's

This is the only early subdued patch I have from the 41st, this dating from the 1990's.

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

The legacy of the Jolly Green Giant continues with the delivery of the HH-60W to the 41st RQS at Moody on the 5 November 2020.

(USAF Photo/Samuel King Jnr)

41st Rescue Squadron

NASA Space Shuttle

Patrick AFB

Full Colour

This patch was made when the Squadron was operational at Patrick AFB supporting the NASA Shuttle program & is one of the only colour versions produced. This one however has a flaw, as the second E in GREEN is not correct.

Fully embroidered, backed with hook & loop with the giant in Dexter.

Crews from the 41st take part in a Mode VII contingency exercise rescuing an "injured" astronaut.

(US National Archives Photo)

41st Rescue Squadron

NASA Space Shuttle

Patrick AFB

Full Colour

If you have one of these patches you'd be willing to sell, trade or donate, please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you.

41st Rescue Squadron

NASA Space Shuttle

Patrick AFB

Woodland subdued Colour

1990's

This patch is the subdued version of the Jolly Green patch from the unit. Not much else is known about the patch, and suspect the patch was worn during the 1990's.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge and the giant in Dexter.

A couple of Pave Hawks fly over the shuttle Atlantis after an evening landing.

(USAF photo by Major Mathew Simpson)

41st Rescue Squadron

Operation ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM

Moody AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2010

This patch is an early sand version, and was probably used for early operations during deployments to Afghanistan for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM or Iraq for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

41st Rescue Squadron

Operation ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM

Moody AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2005

This patch was made c.2005 for the Squadron. The 41st has made many deployments to the far east and this is one of the versions of the squadron patches made. Made for deployments to Iraq for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM or Afghanistan for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge with the giant in Dexter.

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

OCP Subdued Colour

2017

(USAF Photo/Senior Airman Greg Nash)

This patch dates to 2017 & is the new OCP colour design, one of the first the Squadron had made. OCP patches were introduced to the USAF during 2015 & the photograph shows a crewman wearing a patch during 2018.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

OCP Subdued Colour

2021

(USAF Photo/A1C Megan Estrada)

This is a new OCP patch that was made in 2021 & OCP patches were authorised from 2015. Its not known who the manufacturer is. The photo shows a crewman wearing the patch & is easily dated as the COVID facemask gives it away! This was worn during the transition period between the HH-60G Jolly Green & the HH-60W Jolly Green II.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook & loop. This one was obtained from Flightline Insignia.

A HH-60 sits on patrol on the NASA range for the launch of an Alliance Atlas V rocket.

(USAF photo/Lt. Col. Robert Haston)

41st Rescue Squadron

I Like To Party

Moody AFB

Full Colour

2018

This patch was made in late 2018 specifically for the 41st RQS, manufactured by Aviation Gear & bought from Flight Line Insignia. Due to the lack of Squadron number in the top scroll it could be worn by any Squadron, but it was first made for the 41st at Moody.

Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge, backed with hook & loop with the giant in Dexter & a waist coat.

41st Rescue Squadron

Party Patch

Moody AFB

Full Colour

c.2017

Not much is known about this patch, however it was obtained off a crew member form the Squadron & made c. 2017. From the look of it its been theatre made, probably Afghanistan or Iraq.

Fully embroidered with a schiffli edge and the giant in Dexter.

A HH-60G watches on at a successful launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 on the 7 February 2018. (USAF photo/Julia Bergeron)

41st Rescue Squadron

Moody AFB

Full Colour

2024

A design from 2024 and manufactured by Aviation Gear. It was listed as a night patch, however, I'm unsure why it was named like this.

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

Thanks👣