CH-61.01 (61st Airlift Squadron)

Obverse Design	The legend "61st AIRLIFT SQUADRON" curves along the top. The legend "LITTLE ROCK AFB ARKANSAS" curves along the bottom. On the right and the left are dots as separators. Inside these legends is a circle all the way around the coin. Along the bottom of the inside circle is the legend "GREEN HORNETS" which is the nickname of the 61st Airlift Squadron. Horizontally across the top of the inside circle is a raised box. Another smaller box appears above the "GREEN HORNET" legend. This is where the name and rank of the receipient and other information could be engraved. In the center of the coin is the unit mascot, a caricature of a hornet which is also an airplane. To the left of the hornet is a pipe wrench. To the right of the hornet is a cargo parachute with a box. The coin has a smooth plain raised edge, and a plain and smooth background.
Reverse Design	Curving along the edge of the coin are a list of the operations conducted by the 61st Airlift Squadron, with diamond-shaped separators between the names. Starting on the left, the names are "ALASKA ♦ PUSAN ♦ OSAN ♦ KIMPO ♦ ANLOC ♦ KHESAHN ♦ TAN SON NHUT ♦ N.AFRICA ♦ SICILY ♦ NORMANDY ♦ HOLLAND ♦". Inside these names is a circle, and the list of names continues. Starting on the lower left, the names are "DESERT SHIELD / STORM ♦ PROVIDE COMFORT / RELIEF ♦ DESERT CALM ♦ JUST CAUSE ♦". There is a second circle inside this second group of names. The center of the medal features a three-blade propeller, which splits the circle into three equal sections. The left section says "C-119" near the center of the propeller, and shows a C-119 airplane flying out of the center. The right section says "C-130" near the center of the propeller and shows a C-130 airplane flying out of the center. The bottom section says "C-47" near the center of the propeller and shows a C-47 flying out of the center. The section also has the date "1942" (the year the 61st Airlift Squadron was activated) displayed along the lower left propeller blade. The coin has a smooth plain raised edge, and a plain and smooth background.
Metal	Greenish-Brown metal.	Weight	Unknown.	Size and Shape	Round, 41 mm in diameter.
Dates Issued	Unknown, after Just Cause Operation December 1989 and by September, 2001.
Issuer	61st Airlift Squadron.
Mintage	Unknown.
Rarity	Scarce.	Manufacturer	Unknown.	Source	Plowman Collection.
Varieties	None known.
Population Count	A few of these were sold in 2001 and 2002.
Historical Note	The 61st Airlift Squadron (nickname "Green Hornets") is part of the 463rd Air Group at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. They conduct airland, aeromedical evacuation, and tactical airdrop low-level missions. The 463rd Air Group received a Air Force Expeditionary Streamers for Panama in 1989-1990 (Operation Just Cause).