Three legendary SAR helicopters have carried the title of the Jolly Green Giant, the HH-3, HH-53 & HH-60. The CH-3 & CH-53 started the legacy in Vietnam, as they were the only credible assets the USAF had to perform CSAR and adopted the Jolly Green Giant. Since the CH-3 & CH-53's have retired the HH-60 is again the only credible USAF helicopter to perform CSAR, and wear the jolly green patch. Also the CH-3 & CH-53's were supported by HH-43's in Vietnam (Pedro's), only by chance due their being no other helicopters available, the HH-60 carries this mission too, so, again use the callsign of Pedro and Jolly while on active duty.
In the campaigns in the far east in Iraq and Afghanistan the HH-60G worked in both theatres, so posed a unique modern day problem. The SATCOM frequencies used by the Pavehawk were the same for both AOR's, so to differentiate where the were working the Jolly callsign was used in the Iraq theatre, & Pedro was used in the Afghanistan theatre. Because they were controlled by CENTCOM using one frequency they could differentiate which theatre they were operating in.
Air Force pararescue are among the elite when it comes to CSAR, however they need to get their, fast. Their main task is to rescue pilots who have been shot down behind enemy lines. It's never been an easy task, but at least the technology has improved since World War II, when the chance of rescue was very low.
Helicopters first appeared in a small capacity during the Korean War before they really came of age during Vietnam, proving to be the SAR asset America needed.
Air Force pararescue are among the elite when it comes to CSAR, however they need to get their, fast. Their main task is to rescue pilots who have been shot down behind enemy lines. It's never been an easy task, but at least the technology has improved since World War II, when the chance of rescue was very low.
Helicopters first appeared in a small capacity during the Korean War before they really came of age during Vietnam, proving to be the SAR asset America needed.
There are two stories in regards to how it got the Jolly green Giant name. The late Jerry Jennings explains the first story;
"Where and when was the name "Jolly Green" first used? Well, it all began in July 1964 at Eglin AFB, Florida. When the 4488th Test Squadron of the 4485th Test Wing began preparing for Indian River, an exercise with the Army, it was determined that the CH-3s should be painted a camouflage color. In short order the CH-3s were flown to NAS Pensacola for painting. When the first painted CH-3 returned to Eglin, a group of us were on the ramp to welcome it home. As the chopper approached our position, one of the FMs (I think it was either TSgt Marchant or SSgt Crumpler) said, "look, it's the Jolly Green Giant". Nothing more was said about the Jolly Green Giant until July 1965 when two CH-3s, two flight crews and maintenance support personnel, from the 4488th were sent TDY to NKP to begin rescue operations in North Vietnam and Laos. The pilots on those two crews were Captains Fred Liebert, George Martin, James P. (Phil) Stambaugh and David King. When asked what call sign the CH-3 rescue choppers would use, all agreed that "Jolly Green" and the last two digits of the tail number would be their call sign each and every day. At that time the fighters used different call signs for each day and sortie. The group figured that because the enemy knew a rescue chopper would try to rescue each pilot/crew shot down there was no reason to change the call sign. They would know it was a rescue chopper anyway when they saw it on radar. On October 4, 1965, the 38th ARRS arrived at Udorn. When the 38th Commander, Major Baylor Haynes, was told about the Jolly Green call sign he agreed that the call sign should remain the same. I was in the 38th ARRS, having arrived from Eglin AFB with most of the other squadron members. On October the 13th, I was the AC on the first pickup accomplished by the 38th ARRS. The other crew members were Captain James (Digger) O'Dell (CP), MSgt William G. Daniels (PJ) and SSgt Harold R. Schrader (FM). We picked up Major James Edward Prestle Randall III (an F-105 jock) 25 miles NE of Dien Bien Phu. When we returned to Lima Site 36 (L-36) with Major Randall there was a reunion of sorts. Major Charles Hamrick (the Commander of the soon to be formed 37th ARRS) had gone with us to L-36 that day and he and Major Randall knew each other from their Artillery Spotting days (flying AT-6s) during the Korean war. It's funny how those things happen. The Jolly Green name is very famous. Every time I mention to some one that I flew Jolly Greens in Vietnam, they know exactly what the Jolly Greens did and still do all over the world today."
Jerry Jennings
This is the second story. The Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant was the beginning of the Jolly Green Giant. Its boat like hull and colour lead to its unofficial christening. When a HH-3 landed in the rice paddies of Vietnam, it would leave a big impression in the mud, looking like a giants foot had been there, plus the green camouflage gave its name, the Jolly Green Giant. The helicopters were slow, underpowered, and under armed, but continued to serve after the SEA conflict & some seeing service in Desert Storm and the last ones serving until 1995.
Legend CMSgt. Wayne Fisk explains the green feet tattoo and how many toes you should have on your tattoo. Over the years the number of toes has varied between 4, 5 or 6. Early crews had 5 toes, then some NCO's went to 4 toes to differentiate between them and the Officers. Some squadrons have 5-6 toes for the 56th RQS, the 66th RQS had 6-6 toes on both feet and the Special Tactics crew wear an emblem with 4 toes on their emblem. Theres various reasons for this, but no matter how many toes the patch or tatoo has they all ahave a common theme, CSAR and the Jolly Green Giant.
The Air Force recognised the importance of recovering downed aircrew in Vietnam, so the even larger HH-53 was procured, and called them Super Jolly Green Giants. They also took part in SAR missions during the Vietnam War, but after that war, the HH-53s were upgraded into the Pave Low configuration, making them capable of operating at night and bad weather. They also became used as special operations transports. The last Pave Lows were retiring in 2008.
The Air Force though, was looking for more SAR assets – mostly because they only had 41 of the Super Jolly Green Giants. The HH-60A was initially used until a specially modified version became available as the HH-60G. Its primarily tasked with the CSAR, and it usually carries .50-caliber machine guns or 7.62mm miniguns to protect itself. Like the Pave Low, the Pave Hawk can carry out missions at night or day.
The Special Tactics crews earn their maroon berets with the PJ's before splitting, however they use the green feet in their official emblem.
The HH-60W is a modified version of the Army's UH-60M Blackhawk & has a combat radius of 195 nautical miles, and is equipped with new displays to reduce the air crew's workload, and to help the pararescue jumpers do their job more efficiently. The Air Force plans to buy 112 HH-60Ws to replace the 99 HH-60Gs currently in service.
A Jolly Green Giant and the HH-60G. (920th RQW photo)
If you have anything to share please contact me via email at usafjollygreen@gmail.com
12798 and 12799 would eventually do duty as a JOLLY GREEN JOLLY?
ReplyDeleteMy contact with them was Panama Canal Zone 605 ACS 1967-1969.