- RAF Mildenhall, UK
3rd Air Force
(1972 - 2005)
100th Air Refueling Wing
KC-135R era (1992 - present)
513th Airborne Command and Control Wing / 306th Strategic Wing / 55th Wing
RC-135 era (1978 - present)
EC-135H Silk Purse era (1969 - 1991)
EC-135H Silk Purse era (1969 - 1991)
6917th Electronic Security Group – San Vito dei Normanni
AS (Italy)
RC-135 era (1978 - 1991)
9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Detachment 4 (GSU)
SR-71A era (1979 - 1990)
See examples at Beale AFB.
352nd Special Operations Group
MC-130H era (1995 - 2015)
MC-130P era (1995 - 2014)
MH-53J/M era (1995 - 2007)
MC-130J era ( 2013 - present)
CV-22A era (2013 - present)
MC-130P era (1995 - 2014)
MH-53J/M era (1995 - 2007)
MC-130J era ( 2013 - present)
CV-22A era (2013 - present)
PAVE LOW Reunion Scarves
Two in a series of four scarves, authorized by and sold to the
PAVE LOW community after the retirement of the MH-53.
While they are “authentic;” they are not “original.”
The PAVE LOW Red Scarf Story
Information from a former MH-53 PAVE LOW flight engineer –
In the late 1970s, the 20th SOS was chosen in an exercise to
simulate Soviet Hind helicopters with their then H-3s.
Following Russian tactics, they were very successful in
"shooting down" US Army helicopters and USAF fixed wing
adversaries. As the exercise continued the crews further
adopted the "Red" theme and the first red scarves were
issued, cut out of red maintenance rags. After the exercise,
the red scarf tradition continued and carried on to the HH-53
and then MH-53 days. All PAVE LOW crew members
received a red scarf when they were qualified to fly. They
wore then differently than the fixed wing aircrew... under the
collar with the ends showing in the front. Most scarves had
the PAVE LOW squadron insignia (20th SOS, 21st SOS, 31st
SOS, or 551st SOS) embroidered in the middle of the scarf.
The red scarf was a unique symbol of this small brotherhood.
The MH-53 PAVE LOW was retired in 2008.