- Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL
1st Special Operations Wing
UH-1 era (1976 - 1985)
MH-53J/M era (1980 - 2008)
EC-135 era (1970 - 1992)
AC-130U era (1995 - present)
CV-22 era (2007 - present)
MC-130P era (1988 -
present)
MC-130H era (1992 - present)
U-28A era
(2005 - present)






505th Command and Control Wing


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.