Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, flew their last mission in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on Dec. 18, becoming the latest unit across the Air Force to transition to the new HH-60W Jolly Green II.
U.S. Air Forces in Europe announced the final flight in a press release and noted that the wing’s first HH-60W, often called “Whiskey,” arrived Dec. 13. Aviano is the only USAF base in Europe or Africa to host combat search-and-rescue helicopters.
“Today marks the end of an iconic chapter in our Air Force history with the final active-duty HH-60G flight,” 31st Fighter Wing deputy commander Col. Beau Diers said in a release. “Through its tour of duty, the HH-60G provided countless lifesaving rescue operations around the globe. As we transition to the HH-60W, we remember the G’s proud history while looking forward to an even brighter future with increased combat capabilities.”
The Air Force has moved to retire most of its G models, often referred to as “Golf,” in recent years, with 37 aircraft heading to the Boneyard in fiscal 2024 and another 12 going in fiscal 2025.
In addition to Aviano, Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico bid farewell to its last HH-60G this month, with a final retirement ceremony on Dec. 3. The 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in New York retired its first HH-60G in June and finished its conversion by October. And Kadena Air Base in Japan welcomed its first HH-60W in January and retired its last G model by August.
The Pave Hawk fleet is ripe for replacement after nearly 30 years of hard flying both in peacetime rescues and the Global War on Terror. Besides fresh metal, the brand-new Jolly Green II offers advanced avionics and communications, longer range, better self-defense systems, more room onboard, and more life-saving capabilities for pararescuemen.
As the Air Force prepares for a potential fight with China, service officials fear short-ranged, slow moving rescue helicopters will be easy targets in a contested airspace over the vast Pacific Ocean. Air Force leaders moved to cap the fleet size for the W model at 75 aircraft a few years ago, down from their original plan of 113.
Rescue experts disagreed, citing the rescue community’s history of performing in contested environments, the 60W’s impressive capabilities, and the lack of a viable alternative to do the job. In the 2024 budget, Congress added money for 10 extra combat rescue helicopters, boosting the HH-60W fleet to 85. Draft versions of the 2025 budget released by the House and Senate suggest they may add between two and five more.