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Emblems of the 20th, 21st, 31st and 551st Special Operations Squadrons on the red scarf

Since 2003 · For the MH-53 PAVE LOW community

Keeping the PAVE LOW community connected.

The PAVE Cave is the home of the USAF MH-53 PAVE LOW community: pilots, flight engineers, aerial gunners, maintainers and support. We keep our history, remember our fallen and help our families when we can.

Visit the Memorial Wall Find your name in the lineage
  • 1447 names in the lineages
  • 100 on the Memorial Wall
  • HH-53H · MH-53J · MH-53M
An MH-53 PAVE LOW dropping flares over the ocean The same MH-53 PAVE LOW flare drop in its original daylight color
MH-53 PAVE LOW flare drop, shown with a night-vision tint. We flew at night, on goggles.

Tribute

MH-53 PAVE LOW tribute video

A tribute to the aircraft and the crews who flew and maintained her.

Video by Chris Curtis. Plays from our Rumble channel (opens in a new tab).

Memorial Wall

Remembering those we have lost

Every PAVE LOW warrior who has left us in training, in combat or as a veteran. We will never forget their dedication and sacrifice.

Latest announcement

Announcements

Sad news today, John Conley, PAVE LOW Pilot #84 has passed away after battling pancreatic cancer since 2021. Arrangements are being made and I will post as soon as I have an update.

All news and announcements
See all 100 names on the wall Submit a memorial

Personnel lineages

Find your name in the lineage

Community members have kept these lists since 2006. Pilot numbers come from the Pilot Lineage. Flight engineers and aerial gunners were not numbered.

Served in PAVE LOW (aircrew, maintenance or support) but not on a list? Add your name with the lineage registration form.

The Red Scarf

The mark of PAVE LOW aircrew

Every PAVE LOW crew member wore the red scarf on the flight suit, whatever the unit. It marked you as PAVE LOW aircrew. The tradition began with the 20th SOS crews who flew as the “enemy” in the J-CATCH exercises of 1978–79.

Read the story of the Red Scarf
  • 20th Special Operations Squadron: Green Hornet emblem
  • 21st Special Operations Squadron: Dust Devil emblem
  • 31st Special Operations Squadron: Black Knight emblem
  • 551st Special Operations Squadron: Owl emblem

History

The aircraft and the missions

From the first HH-53H PAVE LOW III to the last MH-53M flight in 2008: the history, the tail numbers, the operations and the “lasts.”

Brotherhood

The PAVE LOW Creed

Welcome to the PAVE LOW brotherhood…

You are now a National Asset, your life is no longer your own, your life is The Mission.

You, your crew, and your aircraft, will become one to fight the forces of evil.

You fight against terrorism and any enemy to provide for the security of our Nation.

Your snarling, rotating, gray beast will carry you and your teams into battle to fight for freedom.

You, your crew, and your machine will descend out of the darkness upon the nations of our enemies.

You will never leave Americans behind enemy lines as long as you have fuel and ammunition to press the fight.

You will destroy, by any means possible, the perpetrators of careerism, stupidity, and self-interest.

You are a defender of freedom….A Special Operator

— The PAVE LOW Creed
Pencil drawing of an airman in a flight suit, seen from behind, walking away with a flight bag in each hand
“I Flew”

Stay connected

Where the community meets

Send us photos, documents, videos or corrections, and we’ll add them to the archive.

Friends of the community

Organizations we highlight

These organizations support service members, veterans and their families. Each link opens the organization’s own website.