Sikorsky S - 61R The Sikorsky S - 61R is a twin - engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles . A developed version of the S - 61 / SH - 3 Sea King , the S - 61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS - 61R . The S - 61R served in the United States Air Force as the CH - 3C / E Sea King and the HH - 3E Jolly Green Giant , and with the United States Coast Guard as the HH - 3F " Pelican " . Development . The Sikorsky S - 61R was developed as a derivative of their S - 61 / SH - 3 Sea King model . It features a substantially - revised fuselage with a rear loading ramp , a conventional though water - tight hull instead of the S - 61 ' s boat - hull , and retractable tricycle landing gear . The fuselage layout was used by Sikorsky for the larger CH - 53 variants , and by the much later ( though similarly - sized ) S - 92 . Sikorsky designed and built a S - 61R prototype as a private venture with its first flight in 1963 . During its development , the US Air Force placed an order for the aircraft , which was designated CH - 3C . The Air Force used the CH - 3C to recover downed pilots . The CH - 3E variant with more powerful engines would follow in 1965 . The improved HH - 3E variant would follow later , with eight built , and all 50 CH - 3Es were converted to this standard . Known as the " Jolly Green Giant " , the HH - 3E featured protective armor , self - sealing tanks , a retractable inflight refueling probe , jettisonable external tanks , a high - speed hoist , and other specialized equipment . In 1965 , U . S . Coast Guard ordered a version designated , HH - 3F Sea King ( more commonly known by its nickname " Pelican " ) for all - weather air - sea rescue . The Pelican featured a search radar with a nose antenna radome offset to port , and water landing capability . Italian Agusta built a S - 61R variant , named AS - 61R under license . Agusta produced 22 helicopters for the Italian Air Force . The company claimed it could re - open the production line in 36 months to build additional AS - 61 helicopters . Operational service . United States . USAF variants served in numerous air rescue squadrons and aerospace rescue and recovery squadrons of the Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) , rescue squadrons of the Air Combat Command ( ACC ) and other USAF major commands worldwide . The aircraft was also used by a number of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard rescue squadrons . All USAF HH - 3Es , to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard , were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the current HH - 60G Pavehawk . HH - 3F Pelican was a dependable workhorse from the late 1960s until it was phased out in the late 1990s . All USCG HH - 3Fs have since been replaced by the HH - 60J Jayhawk . Transatlantic flight . Between 31 May and 1 June 1967 , two HH - 3Es of the United States Air Force made the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by helicopter . Departing from New York in the early hours , the two helicopters arrived at the 1967 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget after a 30 hr 46 min flight . The operation needed nine in - flight refuelings . Both helicopters were later lost in combat operations in Southeast Asia in 1969 and 1970 . Honors and awards . Due to the nature of combat operations , particularly in Southeast Asia , many of the operational H - 3 crews received honors and awards . The highest American military award , the Medal of Honor , was awarded to Captain Gerald Young , on 9 November 1967 . Young piloted HH - 3E " 66 - 13279 " of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron in an attempt to rescue an Army team trapped by enemy fire in Laos . When his aircraft was shot down , he escaped the burning wreckage and , despite severe wounds , evaded capture for 17 hours until being rescued . Italy . Italian Agusta began production in 1974 and delivered 22 helicopters as replacements for the Grumman HU - 16 Albatross used for SAR ( Search and Rescue ) missions at sea . Italian Air Force AS - 61R helicopters perform SAR missions in time of peace and C / SAR ( Combat SAR ) in time of crisis or during military assignment . All helicopters are operated by the 5 flights of the 15° Stormo " Stefano Cagna " and deployed in 4 bases across Italy . From 1993 15° Stormo performed support missions to evacuate civilians during natural catastrophes and disasters in Italy . 15º Stormo is also engaged with SAR missions in the hostile zones of the several operations abroad where Italian Armed Forces are deployed - Somalia , Albania , Bosnia , Kosovo , Iraq and Afghanistan . HH - 3E 64 - 14232 is on display at Kirtland AFB NM Aircraft on display . United States . CH - 3E 65 - 12799 is on display at Davis - Monthan AFB AZ , but is displayed with tail number 65 - 5692 , Call Sign PONY12 . CH - 3E 62 - 12581 is on display at Edwards AFB CA HH - 3E 67 - 14703 is on display at Warner - Robins AFB GA