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Da Nang AB 37th AARS HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant

Da Nang AB 37th AARS HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant poster art.

The 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (37th ARRS) was a rescue squadron of the United States Air Force, active during the Vietnam War. On 8 January 1966, the 37th ARRS was activated at Da Nang Air Base operating 5 HU-16s on loan from the 31st ARRS and the 33rd ARRS and with a Detachment at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. The squadron was responsible for aircrew recovery over North Vietnam, Laos and the Gulf of Tonkin. September 1967, Detachment 2 at Udorn RTAFB received its first 2 HH-53B’s. 

The 37th ARRS remained at Danang until it was inactivated on 30 November 1972. 5 of its HH-53s were transferred to the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, while its two HH-43s remained at Danang as Detachment 7 of the 40th ARRS to provide base rescue during Operation Linebacker II.

Da Nang Air Base (1930s–1975 – also known as Da Nang Airfield, Tourane Airfield or Tourane Air Base) was a French Air Force and later Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) facility. It is located in the city of Danang in southern Vietnam. During the Vietnam War (1959–1975), it was a major military base.

The HH-53 “Super Jolly Green Giant” is a version of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter for long-range combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopters. It was developed to replace the HH-3 “Jolly Green Giant”. The HH-53s were later upgraded as MH-53 Pave Low series. The United States Air Force’s MH-53J/M fleet was retired in September 2008.

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Design by Michael Ross

Location: New Orleans, LA
Michael spent his childhood reading such literary classics as “Sgt. Rock” and “Enemy Ace”, spending hours copying the illustrations. He later received a B.A. in Art and still uses his comic book influence along with his love of history and aviation in his work.

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