USAF / 31st RQS / Full Squadron History / Jolly Green Giant

'VIGILANCE AND HONOUR'

The Squadron was established as the 31st Air Rescue Squadron on October 17, 1952, following its prior designation as A Flight of the 2nd Air Rescue Group at Clark AB, Philippines, which was activated on November 14, 1952. The personnel and aircraft were transferred from A Flight, including the SA-16 Albatross and the HH-19 Chickasaw. Operating under the 2nd Air Rescue Group, the HH-19's were eventually replaced by SH-19 in 1955.

On June 24, 1958, the Squadron was reassigned to the Air Rescue Service and later moved to Naha AB, Okinawa, on September 12, 1960, only to be discontinued six days later, on September 18, 1960. However, the Squadron was quickly reorganized on July 8, 1963, at Clark AB, Philippines, flying the HH-19. It was assigned to the Air Rescue Service (later the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service) and attached to the Pacific Air Rescue Centre (which later became the Pacific Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Centre).

In 1964, the HH-19's were replaced by the HH-43, and the squadron also gained the fixed-wing HC-54 Skymaster, which was subsequently replaced by the HC-97 the following year. In 1967, the HC-97 was then replaced by the HC-130.

The Squadron was redesignated as the 31st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron on January 8, 1966, and was subsequently assigned to the Pacific Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Centre (later known as the 41st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing) on April 1, 1967. They acquired the HH-3E in 1968 and phased out the LBR HH-43's in 1972. From April 1967 to July 1975, the squadron operated the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre for the 13th Air Force. It was then deactivated on July 1, 1975.

Rescue of Brigadier General Charles A. Lindbergh

Brig Gen. Lindbergh with Maj Ware

On the 12 April 1972 famed pioneer aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, Brigadier General, with a television news team investigating reports of a “lost tribe” in the Tasaday mountains of Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines, were stranded on a 3,000-foot (915 meter) jungle ridge line when their support helicopter developed mechanical trouble. Faced with a three-day walk through difficult terrain, the 70-year-old pilot was in trouble. The 31st ARRS at Clark AB on the Island of Luzon, was called in.

Maj Bruce Ware and his crew, co-pilot Lt Col Dick Smith, FE SSgt Bob Baldwin, & PJ A1C Kim Robinson, flew their HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, 66-13289, over 600 miles (965 kilometres) to the rescue location. The helicopter, call sign “Jolly 36,” was supported by a Lockheed HC-130N Combat King for aerial refuelling, navigation & communications

The pick-up point was a knife-edge ridge. Trees had been cut for clearance, but landing the Jolly was impossible. Maj Gray had to hover with the nose wheel on one side of the ridge, and the main wheels on the other, with the boarding steps a few feet over the ridge top. The very high temperature and humidity created a density altitude equivalent to more than 6,000 feet (1,830 meters). Hovering the helicopter out of ground effect (OGE) was difficult under these conditions & fuel had to be dumped to lighten the load. Even so, only a few persons could be carried at a time. Eight trips to a drop point 15 minutes away were required. Lindbergh was on the second load. On clearing the ridge, Maj Ware rendezvoused with the HC-130N to take on fuel. They partially refuelled twice during the ridge line operation. Lindbergh commented that although he had helped to develop inflight refuelling, he had never been aboard an aircraft while it was taking place.

After all persons—a total of 46—had been removed from the mountain, Jolly 36 and the Combat King flew back to Clark Air Base. The total elapsed time for the mission was 12 hours, 20 minutes, with 11 hours, 30 minutes actual flight time. Maj Ware had to just sit in the cockpit for a few minutes before he could leave the helicopter, but General Lindbergh refused to leave until Ware was ready.

Major Ware was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The other crew members of Jolly 36 and all those aboard the Combat King received the Air Medal. Ware retired from the Air Force in July 1989, after 29 years of service.

HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter from the Squadron returns a Ryan 

BQM-34A Firebee drone to the station after recovering it from the ocean on 24 August 1984. The 31st ARRS was stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines, from 1981 to 1993. (USAF Photo by SSgt Daniel C. Perez)

It was reactivated on January 8, 1981, once again at Clark AB, Philippines, operating the HH-3 and CH-3, and was assigned to the 41st Rescue & Weather Reconnaissance Wing.

Similar to other Rescue Squadrons, the 31st Squadron actively engaged in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations to assist the local populace. They also provided crucial medical aid to unwell crew members aboard ships, ensuring swift transport to fully equipped hospitals. In June 1982, the Squadron received an urgent call regarding a crewman who had suffered a heart attack aboard the USNS Chauvenet, positioned 350 miles away from Clark near Cuyo Island.

Coordinating with the 33d ARRS, a HC-130 was arranged for refuelling due to the extended range. The two-and-a-half-hour flight culminated in a hoist pickup, as the ship's helipad couldn't support the weight of the helicopter. The rescue operation necessitated two air-to-air refuelling's with the HC-130.

The USNS Chauvenet with the HH-3E hovering over the fantail rear deck. (USAF Photo)

It was redesignated as the 31st Special Operations Squadron on 6 Apr 1989.

Operation Fiery Vigil

On July 16, 1990, the Island of Luzon was struck by the most severe earthquake in fourteen years, registering a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale. Within hours of the disaster, the squadron's HH-3 aircraft were deployed to deliver aid to the affected local population. The earthquake triggered a landslide, tremors, and temporary steam emissions from a pre-existing geothermal site at Mount Pinatubo. In 1990, the squadron upgraded its aging HH-3 helicopters to MH-53J's.

The eruption reached a height of 80,000 feet, but within 3 days it was over 100,000 high.

Following a year of warning signs preceding an imminent eruption from Mount Pinatubo, the Secretary of Defence announced on June 10, 1991, the initiation of a land evacuation at 0600 local time for all non-essential military personnel and Department of Defence civilian personnel, along with their dependents, from Clark Air Base. Clark Air Base, often regarded as one of the most urbanized military facilities in history and the largest American base overseas, had a permanent population of approximately 15,000 at its peak in 1990. The evacuation was directed towards the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, named Operation Fiery Vigil.

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo two days later propelled ash and tephra over 100,000 feet (30,000 meters) into the air. Both Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Station, the two largest U.S. military bases in the Philippines, suffered extensive damage from the volcanic ash. Accumulated ash, reaching nearly a foot in depth due to rain from Typhoon Yunya, caused numerous buildings to collapse under its weight. Flight operations were suspended at both bases for several days, and in some cases, weeks following the eruption. Subsequently, in November, the U.S. relinquished control of both bases to the Philippine authorities, marking the end of 90 years of American history at Clark Air Base.

A Pave low is prepped prior to a mission for Foal Eagle '93. (USAF Photo by Sgt, Mike Reinhart)

The squadron had relocated to MCAS Futemna in Okinawa before the closure of Clark Air Base, with the official move taking place on June 29, 1991, just a few weeks after the eruption occurred.

The Squadron was reassigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing on the April 6, 1989 before moving to Osan AB, South Korea, in July 1992. It was inactivated on August 31 2001. 

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