USAF / 38th ARRS / HH-3E / Jolly Green Giant

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Detachment 1

Nakhon Phanom TRAFB, Thailand

Full Colour

1965-1967

Early Jolly Green Giant patches had a yellow background and this is the only example I've seen that has a det on the top of the patch. Through deduction this patch has to be one from the 38th ARRS, as the 37th ARRS was a HC-130 det. The det was set up with the arrival of two CH-3's in SEA.

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam

Full Colour

1965-1971

This patch dates back to the 1970's & comes from the collection of Bill Zurich.

Fully embroidered with a schiffli edge, backed with period hook & loop, with the giant in Dexter. 

A HH-3 sits on the ramp awaiting the first mission of the day.

(Photo courtesy of Larry Palmer)

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Full Colour

1980's

Partly embroidered on twill with a selvedge edge with the giant in Dexter. Manufactured in Korea and also shows signs of being sewn on hook and loop, plus I've seen other patches exactly the same with hook and loop on yhe back of the patch.

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Full Colour

1980's

(US National Archives)

This patch is a Far East version, probably made in Japan during the 1980's.

Partly embroidered on twill with a selvedge edge & the giant in Dexter.

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Full Colour

late 1980's

This patch dates back to the late 1980's when the unit was operational at Osan AB flying

HH-3E's, this information being verified by an ex-crewman from the Squadron. 

Partly embroidered on twill with a schiffli cut edge with the Giant in Dexter.

Quite a precarious position to be in as a HH-3 was forced to land on the house rooftops in Seoul. Fortunately no one was hurt.

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Full Colour

c.1982

This is a small version of the Squadron patch, the reason its small as MAJCOMs required the Squadron patch to be smaller than theirs, so for the 38th it was MAC who required this. The patch will date c.1982.

Partly embroidered on twill with a gauze (cheesecloth) backing, a merrowed edge with a glued pigtail & the Giant in Dexter.

A Squadron HH-3E hoists a downed crewmember during the exercise Team Spirit '85.

(US National Archives)

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Woodland Subdued Colour

1981-1989

This patch dates between 1981-1989, as this is when the Squadron were operational at Osan AB. This patch was probably made in Korea, as the details & style are common with this design.

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

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Woodland Subdued Colour

late 1980's

This patch dates back to the 1980's as the Squadron was active in Korea between January 1981 to June 1989, but with the help from an ex-crewman this version has been pinned down to the late 1980's.

Partly embroidered on twill with a selvedge edge & the Giant in Dexter.

Successfully hooked up & receiving fuel, & HH-3 takes an a load from a HC-130.

(US National Archives)

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron

Osan AB, South Korea

Blue Colour

1980's

This patch dates back to the 1980's and looks as if its Korean made. What's not known by me is why the patch has a blue merrowed edge. I have been given one theory from an ex-crewman from the 38th ARRS who said it MAY have been made for a green or brown bean tour. A green bean tour was an initiation ritual where a newly assigned crewman was taken into the bar district and introduced to the local night life. Lots of drunken revelry and foolishness, possibly even getting the poor soul lost so he has to find his way home. A brown bean was about the same except that it was the last party for someone leaving. The tours would generally started at Skinny Mom's in Aragon Alley and then hit a dozen or more bars in a somewhat predetermined order.

Partly embroidered on twill with a schiffli cut edge & the Giant in Dexter.

A HH-3E is towed from a wash pan back to the ramp.

(USAF Photo)

38th Combat Beans & Bullets Squadron

(38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron)

Combat Rats

Osan AB, South Korea

Full Colour

1987-1994

These two patches have an absolute fantastic story.

CBABS stands for Combat Beans & Bullets Squadron. During the 1980/1990's the 38th ARRS was occasionally tasked with supplying outposts along the border with North and South Korea along the 38th parallel. The outposts were positioned in remote locations, so occasionally due to cold snowy weather, or the conditions of the rough roads, the 38th would pack rations and ammunition onto a sled in the HH-3's and make deliveries. All of the outposts had mascots, and when the helicopters arrived they were guided into landing by a member of the ground party dressed up as the mascot.

Yungmum San outpost was the home of the "soup dragon", while Mang Il San was home to the "cookie monster". The other sites were Kooni & Pilsung Ranges, and remote radar site at Palgon San.

A crewman from the 38th ARRS is greeted by the cookie monster at Mang Il San.

(Photo by Col. Donald B. Laraway (ret))

The patches were only worn when flying on the mission, as they weren't approved, with the squadron commander not approving the patch & the base commander defiantly not approving it as he was a fighter pilot (where have I heard this before). They were put on when the crew were on the aircraft, and taken off before the Rats mission ended, as to escape any "punishment" that may come their way for wearing the banned patch.

This patch was made by Carl Binford a member of the 38th ARRS, who had them made at a local embroidery shop at Pyongtaek sometime between 1987 & 1994. There are two pictured as it shows all of them are different as they were all individually hand made, so there will never be two of the same. An incredibly difficult patch to find, with an incredible story behind it.

My thanks go to Carl for firstly sending me the  patches & secondly the story behind the patch, a remarkable mission & period of time.

This article is taken for the last Rats mission performed by Jolly 86 on the 27 June 1988.

The crew pose for a photograph for the final 'Combat Rats' mission.

38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron
Full Colour

This patch is a 1980's variation without any JOLLY GREEN writing.

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 or anything to add, for example, photos or stories, please contact me at

usafjollygreen@gmail.com 

I will get back to you.

Thanks👣