USAF / 66th RQS / HH-60G / Jolly Green Giant

The 66th RQS have a long tradition of being a rescue Squadron, but only recently adopted the Green Giant in their patches, the first one coming at the turn of the century. The patches are in chronological order to give you an idea of what designs the Squadron was using at the time, as the 66th did change the designs a few times.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

c.2010

This is a variation of the Squadron patch that was manufactured c.2010.

Embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge, backed with hook & loop & the Giant in Dexter.

This shows a picture of Gen. Buzz Moseley wearing a 66th Rescue Squadron Jolly Green Giant Patch. At the time the patch design was an unofficial one & each Squadron had to wear their official emblem. However the CC of the 66th in 2010 wrote an exception to have the Jolly Green Giant shield allowed as it had historical significance as it had been used in SEA. This was approved so the Jolly Green Giant patch is actually an officially approved patch. At a conference with other Squadron CC's the 41st & 33d RQS, who were wearing it at the time, said they'd adopt it as an official patch to wear. Only the 55th SOS said they wouldn't like to change to keep their 55th SOS design. The subsequent CC of the 66th made the change back to the non Jolly patch.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

c.2003

This patch is a early Green Giant squadron patch that was worn by the crew c.2003.

Partly embroidered on twill with a paper backing & a merrowed edge with an unglued pigtail with the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2004

(USAF Photo/TSgt Kevin J. Grindelwald)

Made for a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan but not sure which deployment as there were a few. The picture of the airman wearing the patch is taken from 2004 while at Nellis, so the patch is pre 2004.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

c.2005

This patch was made by an unknown company c. 2005. Its narrower than the normal shield & shows definite signs of being worn.

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

A couple of HH-60G's refuel from a HC-130J from the 85th TES a skill that is mastered during the day and employed during the night.

(UASF Photo/Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaurm)

66th Rescue Squadron

Memorial Pedro 66

Nellis AFB

Black Colour

2010

(USAF Photo/SSgt Taylor Worley)

This is a patch that was originally designed by one of the Squadron members in an attempt to convince the squadron commander to switch patch colours to match the squadron nametags. These were issued squadron-wide shortly after the Pedro 66 crash on the 9 June 2010 & worn briefly at the memorial service. Only 200 were ever purchased by the squadron.

“Pedro 66” was flying to to pick up a wounded British Marine in the British base in Sangin, southern Afghanistan, when it was hit in the tail rotor by a rocket propelled grenade. 5 of the 7 crew were killed, 2 were critically wounded. Embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop with the giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2011

A crewmember shows his patch in front of a HH-60 basking in the Nevada sun.

(USAF photo/Senior Airman Stepanie Rubi)

The 66th RQS was activated in Feb 1993 at Nellis & is still a current active HH-60G unit in the state of Nevada. A patch that's been worn by the unit, as it can be seen in the photograph below, which was taken in June 2011. A similar design & coloured patch was issued to Combat Ready crew that flew with the 56th RQS.

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

66th Rescue Squadron 

I Like To Party

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

2012

This is from 2012 & is embroidered on twill with a schiffli edge, with the giant in sinister. 

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.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Woodland Subdued Colour

2015

This is a subdued patch from the 66th RQS at Nellis AFB & made c.2015.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Woodland Subdued Colour

c.2020

This looks like a patch manufactured by Tiger Embroidery, so its traveled a distance from Japan to Nellis.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Woodland Subdued Colour

c.2020

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.

A pair of Pavehawks taking off at dusk into the lights of downtown Las Vegas.

(USAF photo/2nd Lt. Anna-Marie Wyant)

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2015

There are a couple of versions of this sand patch, unfortunately the manufacturer is unknown by me, but its a computer made patch, dating around 2015.

Embroidered on twill with a black fabric backing, a merrowed edge with a glued pigtail & the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2015

There are a couple of versions of this sand patch, unfortunately the manufacturer is unknown by me, but its a computer made patch, dating around 2015.

Embroidered on twill with a black fabric backing, a merrowed edge with a glued pigtail & the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Rescue Scheduling

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2015

This patch was designed by Maj Rich "IKE" McCann who originally came up with the idea while assigned to the 55th RQS, serving as a Captain flying HH-60G's. A friend of his came up with the card design, which he 'stole' and adopted it into a design with the Jolly Green Giant on the patch. He made it with no squadron number of so he could take the patch onto the next Squadron he was assigned to when he was the scheduling officer. The role of the chief of scheduling was a busy job, and there was a joke on the squadron that the flying schedule was always a house of cards and about as stable. They were in charge of a very dynamic squadron and it felt like the scheduling officer was always building lots of house of cards.

The patch was originally made while Rich was at the 66th RQS, but the patch was made when he made a visit to Osan in 2015. When he got back to the US he found that the patch was very popular, so had a second batch made which was used by the 33rd RQS. This patch is the first version that was far east made, but for the 66th at Nellis, a lot of people (including myself) thought that this was for the 33rd RQS at Kadena.

Thanks to Rich 'IKE' McCann for the information. The patch can still be obtained here via Flightline Insignia.

Partly embroidered on twill with a schiffli cut edge, backed with hook & loop with the Giant in sinister.

A Pavehawk crew practice using the winch.

(USAF Photo) 

The 66th changed the design of the Green Giant in 2016 & all of the patches with this design can easily be identified as originating from the 66th RQS.

66th Rescue Squadron

Instructors Patch

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2016

(USAF Photo)

"The white 66th patch with the black border is an instructor patch. Two commanders ago, he wanted a way that anyone in the unit could know who was an instructor and who they could go to for questions just by looking at them. Now, once you go through the instructor upgrade course back at the school house in Albuquerque, the commander of the 66th pulls you in front of the squadron, congratulates you and gives you your instructor patch. To the best of my knowledge this is a 66th only thing. Unless other units have picked up on it but we’ve only started it in 2016 so it’s still fairly new". This was information from a crewman assigned to the 66th RQS & at the time the 66th was the only unit with the black border for the IP patches.
The change in design of the giant was done by a co-pilot who ordered the patches and thought the design of the giant was more detailed, and to be honest the face has more detail than previous embroidered versions. It makes ID of a patch easier as the slightly different version ties it to the 66th.

This patch has been very kindly donated by Steven from the 66th RQS, a huge thanks goes to him for the patch and information.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2016

(USAF Photo)

This patch dates to 2016 & looks like he's been down in the gym as he's a bit more muscular than any of the other Jolly Green Giants. This was made by a co-pilot on the Squadron who thought the variation of the giant had more detail. The design is specifically made for/by the 66th RQS & other designs with the same Giant design are directly linked to the 66th RQS.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

2016

A crewmember wears the same patch while tending the memorial site for Jolly 38 & 39. 

(USAF Photo by Airman Bailee A. Darbasie)

This patch was one still being worn by the squadron in early 2019, and is a designed giant that was unique to the 66th RQS. Designed by a co-pilot who thought the giant had more detail & was worn by the Squadron (see below).

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Black Colour

2016

(USAF Photo by Senior Airman Julian W. Kemper)

This patch is directly from the 66th RQS and is currently used by crews. It was made to replace the older black 66th patch they had made. This one was made with green lettering and a different style Jolly Green Giant, this design being thought to be more detailed & recognisable as a 66th designed patch. This patch was kindly donated by Steven who was a crewman on the squadron, a huge thanks go to him. Show above being worn by a crewman.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Instructor Patch

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2016

This patch is a bit odd, as it wasn't issued to the Squadron. I suspect it was made as an IP patch however the person who ordered it didn't like the black writing so it was rejected, making it a sample patch. It would also explain why the patch doesn't have hook & loop on the reverse.

Embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge with the pigtail glued & the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

I Like To Party

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2017

These patches were made by a company called SFS for an event the 66th had in late 2017. The one on the right is illuminous & slightly smaller in size.

A PVC patch backed with hook and loop.

A Pavehawk heads towards the lights of downtown Las Vegas, the base of Nellis being on the outskirts of the Nevada City.

(US National Archives)

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2019

This patch is a fully embroidered version of the Squadrons patch & is one of a few versions made for the Squadron, which dates to c.2019. Note the scroll is quite narrow on this patch & varies from the later one that was made exactly the same apart from the scroll being wider, making the patch 5mm larger. This is the small version & was manufactured by Aviation Gear.

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

Sitting in the late after noon sun waiting for the evening flying to commence.

(USAF Photo by SnA Kevin Tanenbaurm)

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Desert Subdued Colour

c.2020

Another patch made for a deployment to Afghanistan & Iraq, but not sure which theatre.

Partly embroidered on twill with a plastic backing, a merrowed edge with a glued pigtail & the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Jolly Jill

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

2019

This PVC patch was designed & made by three members of the Squadron, pilot Captain Rebecca Bodtke, Special Mission Aviator SSgt Natasha Libby, & Squadron Aviation Resource Manager SSgt Jessenia Salas. Its a fantastic looking design of the Jolly Green Giant patches.

So an informal explanation: for the first time in a lot of our careers, we suddenly found that we were working with a lot of women. Not just aircrew: we had ladies in SARM, AFE, intel, and maintenance. Some of us got together and figured it was time to add to the Jolly tribe. Thus, the she-jolly patch. We actually named her Jill (to the survivor’s Jack), and we intended her to honour women across the board. Whether they are a spouse, turning wrenches, or shaking the sticks, this patch was for them.

PVC patch backed with hook & loop.

Up we go to the wild blue yonder.

(USAF Photo)

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

OCP Colour

2020

The 66th patch worn by a crewman during Spud Smoke 2021. (USAF Photo)

This is a design that was manufactured in 2020 by Aviation Gear & was obtained from Flightline Insignia. 

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

A Pavehawk sits on the squadron ramp waiting for the flight line operations to commence.

(USAF Photo/SSgt. Jacob R. McCarthy)

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

c.2020

This is the latest patch from the Squadron & was acquired in 2020.

Partly embroidered on twill with a plastic backing & a merrowed edge with the pigtail glues & the Giant in Dexter.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Full Colour

c.2020

This is a design that was manufactured in 2020 by Aviation Gear & was obtained from Flightline Insignia. This patch is slightly taller than the other variation of this patch (see above), the difference being a slightly deeper scroll in the top tab, which makes this patch 5mm larger.

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

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

OCP Colour

2020

SMSgt. Andrew Griggs, 66th RQS’s senior enlisted leader, watches the rotor of an

HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 66th RQS at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after its flight before retiring to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at 

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 21, 2022. The HH-60G Pave Hawk was flown for a variety of rescue missions during its time in service. (USAF Photo/A1C Paige Weldon)

This is a design that was manufactured in 2020 by Aviation Gear & was obtained from Flightline Insignia. Its the Squadrons first design that was in the new OCP colours. 

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

66th Rescue Squadron 

March Madness

Nellis AFB

Black Colour

2022

This patch was made by the 66th RQS at Nellis during the NBAA bracket for March Madness in 2022 College Basketball season.

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.

66th Rescue Squadron

Nellis AFB

Black Colour

2022

This is a new version manufactured by Aviation Gear in 2022. I was told by a crewman that the Squadron would not have the bulkier 2016 Giant design made & would design a new Giant when they had run out. With this design being made I can safely assume they have run out of the 2016 design.
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.

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