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HH-60W ‘Jolly Green II’ follows footprints of rescue giants

  • Published
  • By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ORLANDO, Fla. (AFNS) --  The Air Force named its newest combat rescue helicopter, the HH-60W, the “Jolly Green II,” following the legendary tradition of the Vietnam-era HH-3E Jolly Green and HH-53 Super Jolly Green crews who pioneered the combat search and rescue mission.

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett revealed the name at the 2020 Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Feb. 27.

During the ceremony, Barrett recognized retired Col. Barry Kamhoot and retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Fisk, honoring them for their distinguished service and contributions to the combat rescue mission.

Kamhoot was one of the original Jolly Green pilots who flew HH-3E and HH-53 aircraft. As a trailblazer within the rescue community, Kamhoot flew missions into Vietnam, including a harrowing recovery of two Navy crewmen while under fire.

Fisk received the Silver Star for his actions while manning an HH-3E Jolly Green Giant during the 1970 Son Tay Prisoner Of War Camp Raid. He is also credited with being the first to notice the famed “green feet” impressions the HH-3E Jolly Green would leave after landing. The footprints came to symbolize the combat search and rescue mission and are incorporated in the new Jolly Green II logo.

“Reviving the Jolly Green name honors our combat search and rescue crews past and present. Those who operate this aircraft will embody the motto, ‘These Things We Do, That Others May Live,’” said Barrett. “In the hands of our Airmen, this aircraft ensures the rescue community can perform their duties better than ever.”

Also honored were Airmen of the 41st and 48th Rescue Squadrons who recently supported Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and U.S. Special Operations Command East Africa. The crews, designated Jolly 41 and Jolly 42, provided casualty evacuation and emergency close air support to friendly forces while deployed. Notably, the team rescued four critically injured U.S. special operators and two critically injured partner nation members.

The HH-60W comes equipped with a wide range of capabilities that will ensure its crews continue carrying out their important rescue missions in contested and diverse environments.

“Performing combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for the joint force is what the HH-60W is built to do,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, adding “The Jolly Green II gives us extended range and better capability.”

Goldfein, who is responsible for determining the service’s weapon systems requirements, understands how important it is to find and rescue downed Airmen.

“I was grateful for a ride out of enemy territory when I needed it and I can tell you first-hand that this aircraft will save lives,” he said.

The HH-60W, manufactured by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., features advanced and improved defensive systems, vulnerability reduction, hover performance, electrical capacity, avionics, cooling, weapons, cyber-security, environmental and net-centric requirements.

The primary mission of the HH-60W helicopter will be conducting day or night combat search and rescue operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. The HH-60W will also be tasked to perform military operations other than war, including civil search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, security cooperation/aviation advisory, NASA space flight support, and rescue command and control.

"Our combat search and rescue force saves lives on the battlefield and during natural disasters," said Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command. "The HH-60W Jolly Green II will ensure our rescue professionals continue to succeed."

The Air Force plans to purchase up to 108 HH-60W helicopters to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk.

The first two units to be fielded will be the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and the 512th Rescue Squadron at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.