USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 36 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
Embroidered
Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
100-199: $4.00 each
200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
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US Navy US-3A Viking Patch (V) - US Navy US-3A Viking Carrier Onboard Delivery Aircraft Heritage Embroidered Patch.
War Hoover lineage, carrier deck utility, and a rare COD variant identity stitched into one compact piece of naval aviation history.
The US-3A was one of the rarest members of the Lockheed Viking family. While the baseline airframe entered fleet service in February 1974 as a carrier-based anti-submarine warfare platform nicknamed the War Hoover for the distinctive whine of its twin TF-34 turbofan engines, only six airframes were ever converted to the US-3A configuration. Those six aircraft were stripped of their submarine-hunting equipment and rebuilt for a specialized utility and limited cargo Carrier Onboard Delivery role, carrying up to six passengers or roughly 4,680 pounds of high-priority cargo between carriers and shore bases. The US-3A variant played a documented role in US military logistics efforts during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 to 1981, giving this small fleet an outsized place in Cold War naval history. The broader Viking family went on to serve across anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, aerial refueling, and electronic intelligence missions before front-line carrier service ended in 2009, with the last Navy examples retiring in 2016. The US-3A itself was retired from service in 1998, making this embroidered patch a tribute to one of the most specialized and least-known variants in the entire Viking lineage. The embroidered construction gives the design the classic squadron-patch feel that suits shadow boxes, flight jackets, gear bags, cruise displays, and unit-history collection boards without losing the sharp detail that makes carrier aviation patches worth preserving.
Perfect For: US Navy Viking aircrew veterans, carrier aviation historians, COD community alumni, anti-submarine warfare collectors, VS squadron veterans, naval aviation patch enthusiasts, shadow box builders, reunion gift shoppers, and anyone assembling a serious carrier air wing collection that goes beyond the most common airframes to honor the specialized variants that kept the flight deck running.
US-3A heritage, rare by design, preserved in thread for the collectors who know the full Viking story.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
