"Cobra Ball Real Time Optics Sensor "

RC-135S Real Time Optics Sensor patch of the 24th Strat Recon Squadron, Eielson AFB and of course Shemya and likely designed by Jim Martin.

This was an unofficial patch designed by the crew the reason may be clear if you examine the subtle detail of the patch.

You'll notice that the Cobra has a pig on a leash. The "Hog" was the reference to the airplane. You'll also notice the Cobra has on black sunglasses; because he was blind. The leash was for the Cobra's "seeing eye" Hog. You'll also notice that the hog is also wearing black glasses; he is blind as well. A reference to the "blind leading the blind". So when you see the star bouncing off the forehead of the Cobra, the meaning is clear.....................................................

"The "Real Time Optic Sensor" (The Cobra) of the "Cobra Ball" (The Hog) was like the blind leading the blind and couldn't see an incoming "star" if it hit him in the head. You can also see the White Cane. The patches were made in Okinawa I think in the summer of 1985 maybe 1986. The patch was proudly worn by the Stan/Eval Crew that did the test on the new sensor.

About Andreas Hunold: Andy is a retired German AF MSgt, now working at the NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany as a local civilian and his hobby is the U.S. AIR FORCE! "I'm interested in just every USAF unit and I collect everything from fact sheets to base guides, photos and of course cloth patches! At present I have slightly over 10,000 USAF patches in my collection and quite a few from the 55th SRW."