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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Sikorsky S-61 / H-3 / Sea King
    Latest Model:HH-3E Jolly Green Giant
    Last Military Serial:67-14709 USAF
    Construction Number:61-611
    Compressed ID:Sikorsky HH-3E sn 67-14709 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio

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    Dates

    Event

    By December 1967

    Constructed as a CH-3E.

    31 December 1967

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 67-14709.

    January 1968

    Transferred to Military Airlift Command.

    Circa January 1968

    Converted to a HH-3E.

    March 1968

    Transferred to 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MATS), Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.

    During its service in Vietnam, those who crewed the aircraft were responsible for saving 27 lives, and earned 14 Silver Stars for heroism, and one Air Force Cross. The aircraft suffered heavy damage from enemy fire.

    October 1970

    Transferred to 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (MATS), Osan AB, Korea.

    April 1971

    Transferred to 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MAC), Osan AB, Korea.

    April 1973

    Transferred to 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (MATS), Osan AB, Korea.

    March 1977

    Transferred to 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MAC), Osan AB, Korea.

    From 30 March 1979 to 31 March 1979

    From NMUSAF site is the following: This aircraft participated in another daring rescue mission in the Yellow Sea. On the night of March 30-31, 1979, Maj. James E. McArdle, Jr., and his crew flew this helicopter to save 28 sailors from the Taiwanese freighter Ta Lai after it ran aground. Fighting 15-foot waves and high winds, the HH-3E crew made three trips delivering the Taiwanese sailors to Kwangju Air Base, South Korea. For this rescue, McArdle received the 1979 MacKay Trophy, which is awarded for the most meritorious flight of the year by an Air Force person, persons or organization.

    October 1981

    Transferred to 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MAC), Osan AB, Korea.
    Deployments to Clark AB, Philippines.

    By November 1987

    Transferred to 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MAC), Osan AB, Korea.

    April 1990

    Transferred to 31st Special Operation Squadron (MAC), Clark AB, Philippines.

    1990

    Transferred to 71st Special Operations Squadron (USAF Reserve), Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

    19 February 1991

    Transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) with inventory number HH0025.

    August 2010

    Transported by air. Delivered to National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    Delivered by a C-5B.
    View the Location Dossier

    From August 2010 to December 2010

    Restored.

    14 December 2010

    Placed on display.

    5 June 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    5 June 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Military Aircraft Serials of North America by S. Mitchell and A Eastwood
    Internet Sources
     National Museum of the United States Air Force
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
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