USAF / 41st RQS / Full Squadron History / Jolly Green Giant

41st Rescue Squadron

The 41st Rescue Squadron traces its origins to September 1, 1949, with the activation of A Flight of the 4th ARG at Hamilton AFB, CA. On October 17, 1952, it was constituted as the 41st Air Rescue Squadron and officially activated on November 14, 1952. This activation marked the expansion of Air Rescue Service squadrons, replacing flights with new squadrons. Inheriting personnel and equipment from A Flight, including SB-17s, C-82s, and H-5s, the squadron was assigned to the newly redesignated 4th Air Rescue Group. The early aircraft were later replaced by SA-16 Albatross and SH-19s in 1953, becoming the standard types for air rescue units in the 1950s.

An old 1950's Air Rescue Squadron patch, the exact same design that the Squadron use today.

On December 8, 1956, the Squadron underwent reassignment to the Air Rescue & Recovery Service. Operating within this service, it carried out Search and Rescue (SAR) missions to recover personnel and aerospace hardware, supporting USAF global air and space operations, as well as participating in various humanitarian rescue operations. The Squadron was discontinued and inactivated on March 18, 1960.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The 41st was activated on December 29, 1961, initially assigned to MATS and later organized on January 8, 1962, as part of the Air Rescue and Recovery Service, which would eventually become the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the Squadron deployed aircraft and crews to Florida. It played a role in recovering high-altitude atmospheric sampling devices from 1962 to 1987.

Operating initially with SA/HU-16 and HH-19, the helicopters were replaced by HH-43 Huskies in 1963, though they lasted only a year. The Albatrosses were retired in 1968, replaced by HC-130s that arrived in 1966. In the same year, on January 8, 1966, the Squadron was redesignated as the 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.

On January 1, 1970, the Squadron was reassigned to the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing. In 1971, it integrated a rotary element with the arrival of the HH-53. Relocating to McClellan AFB, CA, on August 1, 1973, the Squadron switched from HH-53s to the smaller HH-3. On September 1, 1975, it was again reassigned, this time to the 41st RWRW. In 1976, the HH-53s returned to replace the HH-3s.

The 41st ARRS operated HH-53's, HH-3's & HC-130's, so the helicopters were represented on this patch by the Jolly Green Giant & the Hercules by the crowned K for the King/Crown mission. These patches were made in the Far-East as they are backed with paper with Mandarin newsprint. Worn by both crews, which shows the Squadrons unity.

The Low Light Low Flight patch was created by Chief Tom Green while the 41st ARRS’s. The HH-53's that were flown were all capable of 

Subsequently, the Squadron's HH-53s, served until September 30, 1987, when the Squadron was inactivated. This freed up the HH-53C's to be converted to HH-53H Pave Lows which were planned to come back to the Squadron but were transferred to AFSOC.

Reactivation

Reactivated on March 1, 1989, as the 41st ARRS, the Squadron transitioned to flying HH-3s, as the 20th SOS with AFSOC took their previously operated HH-53's as newly converted HH-53H's. Operating from Patrick AFB, it was assigned to the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing (March 1, 1989), with attachment to the Eastern Space and Missile Centre (later, 45 Space Wing) for operational control (March 1, 1989–circa February 1, 1993). In March 1989, the Squadron began providing prelaunch security and safety surveillance for NASA launches and offering recovery or medical evacuation support for Space Shuttle crewmembers.

On June 1, 1989, it was redesignated as the 41st Air Rescue Squadron and a few months later, on August 1, 1989, it was assigned to the Air Rescue Service.

Entering the 1990s, the Squadron underwent significant changes. It was redesignated as the 41st Rescue Squadron on February 1, 1993, and assigned to the 1st Operations Group. In the following year, the Squadron experienced a crucial update, replacing the veteran HH-3s from the Vietnam era with the modern HH-60G helicopters.

Operations

From 1996 to 1997, the Squadron played a crucial role by deploying personnel and aircraft to Southwest Asia, offering Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. This marked the first successful implementation of the AEF concept, with a primary USAF wing deploying alongside trained Squadrons. The 41st delivered on-call services across Southwest Asia, covering areas such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Squadron was a key provider of rescue assets for various AEF deployments, participating in cycles 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, each lasting 120 days.

A HH-60 is loaded onto a C-5 at Incirlik after the Northern Watch deployment. (USAF Photo/TSgt. Cecil D Daw Jr)

Allied Force

In 1999, Operation Allied Force was a NATO bombing campaign aimed at stopping Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic and his forces, compelling them to withdraw from Kosovo. The primary objective was to establish total air superiority before launching widespread attacks on Serbian forces.

During a 78-day period, NATO aircraft conducted over 38,000 sorties, targeting Serbian locations both in Kosovo and the homeland as part of Operation Allied Force. President Milosevic eventually agreed to withdraw his forces and comply with NATO's demands on June 3, signing a formal treaty on June 9. NATO patrols over Serbia ceased on June 10, confirming the actual withdrawal of Serbian forces. Operation Allied Force was officially terminated on June 20.

While the 41st wasn't deployed for the conflict itself, a rescue detachment of four HH-60s was sent in the autumn of 1999. Their mission was to replace the combat and rescue veterans of the 55th SOS, who had successfully rescued a downed F-117 and F-16 pilot. Although the 55th SOS crew stayed briefly to assist with the transition, it was discovered that the 41st RQS HH-60s had M-240 machine guns instead of miniguns and lacked infrared flare dispensers. Consequently, the 55th left four fully equipped and armed MH-60s at Brindisi for the 41st crews to operate.

The Squadron underwent reassignment to the 1st Rescue Group on June 14, 1995, and subsequently relocated to its current base at Moody AFB on April 1, 1997. Concurrently, on the same date, it was reassigned to the 347th Operations Group, which would later evolve into the 347th Rescue Group.

Operation Atlas Response

In February and March 2000, Mozambique faced severe flooding caused by tropical cyclones Connie and Ellie, leaving one million people homeless. The U.S. President announced the deployment of AFSOC MH-53s; however, due to their substantial downwash, HH-60s already present in the region from an Operation NORTHERN WATCH deployment in Turkey were also sent. Two MC-130Ps and three MH-53Js deployed from RAF Mildenhall, along with HH-60Gs from the 41st and 56th RQS. While two C-5s carrying HH-60s initially landed at Hoedspruit on March 7, they forward deployed to Beira, Mozambique. All three aircraft types provided real-time reconnaissance to assess the extent of the flooding.

Initially, the three HH-60s flew daily for 12 hours, later reduced to two flights to allow for crew rest and maintenance. Their missions included supplying rice, food, tents, tools, and farming equipment. By March 25, the HH-60s had delivered 177 tons out of the total 203 tons of food. The HH-60s and crews were flown back home on April 2.

War on Terror

Between 2002 and 2021, the Squadron deployed extensively to support combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, contributing to hundreds of saves and thousands of missions. While it's impossible to cover all, one mission stands out.

2004 Mackay Trophy winners

Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 crewmembers distinguished themselves by gallantry in connection with rescue operations near Kharbut, Iraq, on April 16, 2004. On this date, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Jolly 11 Flight launched to rescue a five person crew of a U.S. Army CH-47 that crashed in a sandstorm with near zero visibility. En-route to the crash scene, crews realized their forward looking infra-red and night vision goggles were ineffective. Continuing to use each crewmember to their fullest degree, Jolly 11 Flight was able to locate the survivors. Both aircraft then made near zero visibility approaches relying nearly exclusively on the flight engineers and aerial gunners inputs for precision navigation. Following the successful survivor contacts and recovery by the Flight’s Pararescuemen, Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 were individually engaged by separate multiple surface-to-air missiles attacks. Using evasive manoeuvres and working as a fine-tuned, combat seasoned team, Jolly 11 evaded two missiles. Both Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 continued to provide mutual wingman support with defensive fire until the formation was clear of the threat area saving the lives of five U.S. Army personnel. Their gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

  Jolly 11 Crew
    1Lt Bryan Creel
     Capt Joseph Galletti
     Sgt Thomas Ringheimer
     SSgt Vincent J. Eckert
     SSgt John Griffin
     SSgt Patrick Ledbetter

  Jolly 12 Crew
     Capt Rob Wrinkle
     1Lt Gregory Rockwood
     TSgt Michael Preston
     TSgt Paul Silve
     SSgt Matthew Leigh
     SSgt Michael Rubio
     SrA Edward Ha

On December 28, 2009, the 41st received a call for assistance from British troops needing airlift support for two wounded soldiers. The team, consisting of two HH-60Gs and two British WAH-64 Apaches for cover, launched for the pick-up. During the mission, the Pavehawks came under fire. In a courageous act, Capt. Charles McMullen, one of the Pavehawk pilots, drew fire away from his wingman by flying between the landing pick-up Pavehawk and the enemy. For this heroic action, Capt. McMullen was awarded the Silver Star. However, the war in Afghanistan also brought a significant cost for the Squadron. On March 23, 2003, "Komodo 11" crashed with six crew members on board, including four from the 41st: pilot Lt. Col. John Stein, co-pilot Lt. Tamara Archuleta, and flight engineers SSgt. Jason Hicks and SSgt. John "Mike" Teal.

HH-60W Jolly Green II & new firsts

On November 5, 2020, the 41st became the first active duty Squadron in the USAF to receive the HH-60W Jolly Green II, with two aircraft arriving at Moody. These helicopters were flown in by crews from the 41st RQS, the 413th FLTS, and the 88th TES from the Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Training Academy.

Two HH-60W Jolly Green IIs prepare to land at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Nov. 5, 2020. The 23rd Wing and 347th Rescue Group leadership received the Air Force’s first two HH-60Ws. The delivery of the new model is significant to the personnel recovery mission as it begins the transition from the predecessor, the HH-60G Pave Hawk model, which has been flown for more than 26 years. (USAF Photo/Andrea Jenkins)

The Squadron began integrating the new HH-60W Jolly Green II into the USAF, including participation in Red Flag at Nellis AFB. In January and February 2022, the HH-60W took part in the extensive exercise in Nevada. The 388th FW from Hill AFB led the exercise, with crews from various branches and countries flying a diverse range of aircraft, including A-10, B-2, B-52, E-7A, E-8, EA-18G, EC-130, F-15E, F-16C, F-22, F-35, Typhoon, HC-130, KC-135, MQ-9, RC-135, and RQ-4s.

Airmen from the 66th Rescue Generation Squadron/Rescue Squadron welcome an 

HH-60W Aug. 11, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The HH-60W is the new model of helicopter procured by the Air Force to replace the HH-60G that has been serving as the primary Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) vehicle in combat operations, civil SAR requests, and other support efforts around the world. (USAF Photo by A1C Jordan McCoy)

The patch was made for the first Red Flag that the Jolly Green Giant II participated in.

IOC Capable
The 41st declared the HH-60W reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on September 9, 2022. As part of this milestone, the new helicopter engaged in air combat manoeuvres against the Mi-24 Hind in Lancaster, Texas. IOC signifies that the Air Force has the necessary HH-60Ws, logistical capabilities, and trained personnel to support a 30-day deployment to any independent location with a package of four aircraft. In fact, the helicopter was deployed immediately upon IOC declaration.

On September 7, 2022, a couple of days before the IOC declaration, the 41st Rescue Squadron and the 38th Rescue Squadron accomplished the first rescue mission in the Jolly Green II. In response to a request from the South Georgia Medical Centre for a patient transfer to Tampa, Florida, "Air Force Rescue 490" was swiftly launched after completing a four-hour training sortie, showcasing the immediate operational readiness of the HH-60W.

First Deployment
The deployment of at least two HH-60W helicopters from Moody AFB was captured in photos as they were loaded onto C-17s on September 19 and 27, 2022. The images depicted Moody Airmen embarking on the first-ever operational deployment of the HH-60W to offer rescue services in support of contingency operations. Specific details regarding the deployment were not disclosed, as indicated by the captions accompanying the photos.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 23rd Wing load an HH-60W Jolly Green II onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 19, 2022. This is the first deployment for the HH-60W and it offers a range of improved capabilities over its predecessor including improved range and survivability. Moody Airmen set out on the first-ever operational deployment of the HH-60W to provide rescue services in support of contingency operations. (USAF Photo/A1C Deanna Muir)

This patch was made for the deployment a superb design & one using the whisky bottle denoting the HH-60W, which is dubbed the 'whisky'.

Two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters from the 41st Rescue Squadron were deployed to an undisclosed location in the East Africa/Horn of Africa region. Additionally, on December 31, 2022, the squadron operated from the expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams.

A PJ prepares to move a simulated casualty to a HH-60W during a CASEVAC exercise. (USAF Photo/TSgt. Jayson Burns)

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Adam Insley directs a HH-60W from the USS Hershel Williams on the 31 December 2022. (US Navy Photo/MCS2C Conner D. Blake)

A couple of patches dating from 2022.