24 March 2000: In flight near Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, is this Sikorsky MH-53J Pave Low IIIE, a “Super Jolly Green Giant” special operations helicopter assigned to the 551st Special Operations Squadron. This helicopter, serial number 66-14428, was the very first HH-53B built. [A photograph of its first flight is posted on TDiA at “15 March 1967” https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/15-march-1967/ ]
66-14428 was sent to The Boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, 7 January 2007, after 40 years of service.
© 2019, Bryan R. Swopes
I flew this aircraft the day this photo was taken. MSgt Dave Dolan (the photographer) was a young AF photographer in 1989 when he flew with me in Norway and took another widely circulated photograph of USN SEALs coming out the back of another Pave Low. That photo was made into an AF poster. Great aircraft!
Thank you, Bill.
Flew on it pre pave at the 41st
I believe that SSgt Kelly Hodges was the Crew Chief on 428 at Hill AFB in 1975-76. There were rumors of the Pave Low Project then, but wasn’t implemented until were moved to Kirkland AFB.