File:CH-3 at the Aerospace Museum of California.jpg

English: USAF interest in the S-61 Navy helicopter resulted in the purchase of the first

three units for use in servicing radar sites in the Atlantic Ocean, often called “Texas Towers”. These aircraft were designated as CH-3Bs. The fitting of the 1,500 hp T58- GE-5 engines for the original 1,300 hp units resulted in a redesignation of the craft to CH-3E. Versions equipped with armor-plate, refueling probe, and machine gun armament served with the Air-Sea Rescue units in Vietnam, where the aircraft was given the nickname “Jolly Green Giant”.

USAF S/N 65-5690 was manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was delivered to the Air Force on October 29, 1965. It was assigned to the 2nd Air Division (PACAF), Tan Son Nhut AFB, Vietnam in December 1965. It was transferred to the 377th Combat Support Group (PACAF), Tan Son Nhut AFB, in April, 1966; and the 20th Helicopter Squadron (PACAF), Tan Son Nhut, in October 1966; 14th AF Communications Wing (PACAF), Tan Son Nhut, in December 1966, and subsequently to Nha Trang AFB, Vietnam in July 1968, and 14th Special Operations Wing (PACAF), Udorn AFB, Thailand in August 1968. It was modified to CH-3E configuration and assigned to the 56th Special Operations Wing (PACAF), Udorn AFB. In August 1971 it was transferred to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), Davis- Monthan AFB, Arizona; to the 432nd Technical Operations Group (TAC), and to the Military Aircraft Storage Center (AFLC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in January 1979. It was withdrawn and sent to the AF Flight Testing Center (AFSC), Edwards AFB, California in October 1979; and finally to the 129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (ANG), Moffet AFB, California. It was flown to the 55th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MAC), McClellan AFB, California, on September 25, 1990, and

turned over to the museum for display.