Marine Helicopters CH-53 First In Last Out Patch — Embroidered Patch
The Heavy That Goes Anywhere
When the load is too heavy, the zone is too far, or the mission is too critical for anything else — they call the 53. The CH-53 First In Last Out patch honors the Marines who have flown, crewed, and maintained the Corps' heavy-lift helicopter from Vietnam through today. The Shitter may not be pretty, but nothing else in the inventory can do what she does.
The Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion entered Marine service in 1966 and immediately proved its worth in Vietnam, carrying loads that no other helicopter in the Marine inventory could handle. The original CH-53A and CH-53D models retrieved downed aircraft, transported heavy equipment, and moved entire units across the battlefield. The three-engine CH-53E Super Stallion expanded the capability dramatically, becoming the most powerful helicopter in the Western military arsenal with the ability to lift 73,500 pounds externally. Marines affectionately dubbed the aircraft "the Shitter" — a term of endearment that speaks to the aircraft's rough ride and its crews' darker sense of humor. Today, the CH-53K King Stallion continues the lineage with next-generation capabilities. From Vietnam to Desert Storm to Afghanistan, the 53 has been the heavy-lift backbone of Marine expeditionary operations.
Perfect For:
CH-53 aircrew and maintainers, HMH squadron veterans, heavy-lift helicopter enthusiasts, Marine aviation historians, Shitter community members, and military patch collectors
The heaviest loads. The hardest missions. The 53 delivers.
