39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Eglin AFB
Full Colour
1970/80's
These patches date back to the late 1970's/early 1980's & made in Taiwan. You can see by the edging on the one on the left that its been worn on a flight suit as it has tell tale holes from the stitching. Due to the 39th being spread across the globe I suspect multiple manufacturers made their patches, therefore multiple variations.
They are all similar as they are partly embroidered on twill, with a merrowed edge & the Giant in Dexter.
A HC-130 refuels a HH-53 high above the clouds.
(Photo by Robert P. Leach)
"I understand they no longer teach "drafting" off the refueler C-130's, to get places faster. Plug in, load a half tank of gas, push forward until your rotors are taking air from across the C-130 wing, yep, pretty close, especially "asymmetric" on the right side with the big H-3 or H-53 air frames. You could feel the bounce and lower the collective to avoid eating trailing edge. Then the C-130 pilot would slowly increase throttle until you maxed the collective. You could see up to 200 knot air speeds in a helicopter rated at 146 max (I think, long ago, but a lot of speed gain). When you got down to a quarter tank you spoke with the C-130 pilot, slowed to normal and drifted back until the hose was in the fuel flow range to tank back up. It beat multiple times hitting the basket, if you stayed light on fuel was quite fast, and other than a lot of concentration flying that close, worked very well. I don't think the relatively light
"I understand they no longer teach "drafting" off the refueler C-130's, to get places faster. Plug in, load a half tank of gas, push forward until your rotors are taking air from across the C-130 wing, yep, pretty close, especially "asymmetric" on the right side with the big H-3 or H-53 air frames. You could feel the bounce and lower the collective to avoid eating trailing edge. Then the C-130 pilot would slowly increase throttle until you maxed the collective. You could see up to 200 knot air speeds in a helicopter rated at 146 max (I think, long ago, but a lot of speed gain). When you got down to a quarter tank you spoke with the C-130 pilot, slowed to normal and drifted back until the hose was in the fuel flow range to tank back up. It beat multiple times hitting the basket, if you stayed light on fuel was quite fast, and other than a lot of concentration flying that close, worked very well. I don't think the relatively light
HH-60G/W would do well at this, especially in weather".
Thanks to Dennis P Brooks for the story around "drafting".
One of the three HH-3E's, which didn't have any fuel tanks & refuelling probes.
The Det 11 patch is seen being worn here by Capt. Cote during a deactivation ceremony on July 31, 1987. The ceremony was conducted like a funeral, woth vicar, tombstone and ladies dressed in black, all with an Air Force sense of humour. One interesting part is that the patches are upside down, this is to represent the shape of a tombstone. 
Seen a bit clearer (and the right way around) during a flight in 1985.
A HH-3E practices an overwater pick up of a shuttle crewman.
Thanks to Dennis P Brooks for the story around "drafting".
39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 2
Albrook AFB, Canal Zone
Full Colour
1970-1975
This patch dates back to the 1 Jan 1970, when the Detachment was activated at Albrook operating three CH-3's until Jul 1975. While operating in the Canal Zone the det operated three HH-3E's for CSAR & local support. The Detachment was also active at K. I Sawyer AFB Between Sep 1975 until Oct 1977. The 39th ARRW operated upwards of 13 detachments across the United States & at various locations throughout the globe.
Partly embroidered on twill with a schiffli cut edge with the giant in Dexter, it’s also a very thin & delicate cheesecloth backed patch, & due to its delicate nature this would break fairly easily. This along with them only having three HH-3's may be a reason why there are so few of these about.
"I was with the 1976 Communications Sq. at Albrook AFB Nov 68 -Nov 72. We sponsored a small Panamanian Village and had a Christmas Party for the children who lived there. One year, someone decided to have Santa Claus arrive by helicopter, and he did, in one of those HH-3’s.
The problem was, despite being responsible for all radio communications on the Base, we had no radio communication with the pilot of the chopper, and when we tried to signal from the ground, that he should land in an area down a dirt road, the pilot thought we were saying he should land in the clearing in the middle of the village.
It was a disaster! The roofs of the homes in the village had either thatched grass or corrugated tin roofs. As the helicopter landed, many of the roofs that were made of metal went flying off in the hurricane strength winds from the rotors of the chopper!
The villagers at first were very, very unhappy!
We were able to assure them that we would return the next day with new wood and roofing material to repair the damage.
Of course as you can imagine, taking off caused more roofs to go flying!
At least the children were happy to see Santa!
The next day I drove a large truck loaded with all the corrugated tin roofing, 2x4’s and concrete that was available on base, to the village. We worked all day rebuilding roofs and repairing damage.
From my memory, the HH-3’s were painted grey color."
The problem was, despite being responsible for all radio communications on the Base, we had no radio communication with the pilot of the chopper, and when we tried to signal from the ground, that he should land in an area down a dirt road, the pilot thought we were saying he should land in the clearing in the middle of the village.
It was a disaster! The roofs of the homes in the village had either thatched grass or corrugated tin roofs. As the helicopter landed, many of the roofs that were made of metal went flying off in the hurricane strength winds from the rotors of the chopper!
The villagers at first were very, very unhappy!
We were able to assure them that we would return the next day with new wood and roofing material to repair the damage.
Of course as you can imagine, taking off caused more roofs to go flying!
At least the children were happy to see Santa!
The next day I drove a large truck loaded with all the corrugated tin roofing, 2x4’s and concrete that was available on base, to the village. We worked all day rebuilding roofs and repairing damage.
From my memory, the HH-3’s were painted grey color."
(This story is courtesy of GK Tremmel/1976 Comms Sqn '68-'72 & a huge thanks from him for this)
(This picture is courtesy of GK Tremmel/1976 Comms Sqn '68-'72 & a huge thanks from him for this)
39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 5
Tyndall AFB
Full Colour
1973-1981
This patch dates back to the 1970's when the detachment was operational at Tyndall AFB. The detachment was active between Jan 1970-Jul 1970, Feb 1973-Jul 1978 & Jan 1981-Feb 1987. Recovery equipment was trailed out of the rear cargo ramp so the helicopter could snag parachutes of drones that needed recovering.
Fully embroidered & handmade as you can still see the blue powder residue from the transfer of the outline of the design of the patch onto the cloth, which the embroider would have followed. It also has a schiffli cut edge with the giant in Dexter & a silhouette of a
HH-3 picking up a drone on a parachute.39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 11
Myrtle Beach AFB
Full Colour
1981-1987
This patch was made for Detachment 11 which was active at Myrtle Beach, AFB S. Carolina between 1 Sep 1975 to 1 Jul 1978 when it operated HH-1's & between 8 Jan 1981 to 1 Feb 1987 where it operated CH-3E's & HH-3E's Jolly Green Giants. This easily dates this patch to the early to mid 1980's.
Partly embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge, backed with hook and loop, with the giant in Dexter.
39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 15
Patrick AFB
Full Colour
1981
This patch was made when the Detachment operated HH-3E's out of Patrick AFB between the 8 January 1981 to the 1 February 1997. It was worn by the crews of the detachment for the launch of STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) which was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on 12 April 1981 and returned on 14 April, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 36 times. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American crewed space flight since the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1975. STS-1 was also the only maiden test flight of a new American spacecraft to carry a crew. Seeing that the crews were wearing the patch for the launch you can easily date it between January and April 1981.
Fully embroidered with a merrowed edge with the pigtail woven into the merrowed edge & the giant in Dexter.
A huge thank you to Dennis P Brooks for information regarding the patch.
STS-1 blasts off with support offered by det 15 & the patch above being used by the rescue crews.
(NASA Photo)
39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 15
Patrick AFB
Full Colour
1981-1987
The 39th ARRW had various detachments spread over the globe, & this is one that supported the US Space program & NASA. Det 15 was active between 1 Feb 1973-1 Jul 1978 & Jan 1981-Feb 1997 operating the HH-3 Jolly Green Giant & the HH-60G Pavehawk from nearby Patrick AFB.
Partly embroidered on twill backed with gauze (Cheesecloth) with a merrowed edge & the pigtail loose at the back with the giant in Dexter.
Full scale mock ups were made at the NASA site so the rescue crews could practice drills to rescue the shuttle crews.
(US National Archives)
39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing
Detachment 15
Patrick AFB
Full Colour
1981-1987
This is a difficult patch to find & it took me years to finally get one. This one dates back to the mid 1980's before the detachment inactivated in 1987 when based at Patrick AFB operating HH-3's.
Partly embroidered on twill with a plastic backing, with a merrowed edge & the pigtail incorporated into the plastic backing & the giant in Dexter.
(USAF Photo/SSgt. Magel)
Refuelling from the cockpit of a HH-3 and just shows how difficult and small the refuelling basket was.
(Photo courtesy of Don Gruchmal)
If you have any additional information about this patch please contact me & I´ll get back to you.
Thanks👣
Det 5, 39th ARRW, Tyndall AFB Fl. Mid Air Retrieval Systems (MARS).
ReplyDeleteHello Marty. Do you remember a Dennis Hales? We go way back to 1966 when we went through basic helicopter school. Been trying to contact him. He was stationed at Tyndall at one time.
DeleteThanks Marty there is a Det 5 patch too.
ReplyDelete