Batcat Image Server Change - 10/29/03

The Aircraft Flown by Batcat
The Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation

Click here for more Details of the Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation, Lockheed C-121G Super Constellation, Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star, Kaman HH-43B Huskie, and the Beech QU-22A and QU22B Baby Bat!  Included are many images of the EC-121R, images of the EC-121D and C-121G, details of the inflight emergencies, details of the loss at Otis and the two losses of Batcat EC-121R's at Korat in crashes wich claimed a total of 22 lives, with USAF crash summaries for both Korat losses, a list of all the EC-121R's built including serial number, Lockheed construction number, former Navy Bureau numbers and their final disposition, an EC-121D College Eye image, an image of one of the C-121G Connie's loaned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing by the Pennsylvania Air Guard, and information about the Beech QU-22 airplane intended to replace the EC-121R, including a full list of all the QU-22's built including their final disposition (several exist and fly on the civil register today).  Updated 04/20/08.

553rd EMS, 553rd FMS and 553rd OMS were
the Service Technicians who kept the Batcat
Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation Flying

The EC-121R and other aircraft required skilled technicians to keep them flying. Click here for more information about the skilled maintenance technicians who serviced the Batcat aircraft. This area also includes information about the 193rd Tactical Warfare Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the EC-121S the ANG flew from Korat RTAFB. Originally part of this opening Batcat homepage. I moved it to its own page on 02/18/07, Last updated 03/16/08.

Beautiful Inflight view of
EC-121R sn 67-21490
I purchased a really nice color inflight view of EC-121R 67-21490. Photo is U. S. Air Force photo KE 35179, taken January 15, 1969, by Master Sergeant Roman G. Contos, USAF. Labled as a "High angle side view of U.S. Air Force EC-121 of the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron in flight of Thailand." I believe this is the best inflight view of a Lockheed EC-121R I have seen yet.  Size is set to be about full screen with resolution set to 600x800. My thanks to Dean Boys for alerting me that this photo was for sale on eBay!  Color, about 127K, added 02/15/00.

An Overview of Batcat
A short History of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. This is a short overview of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. This history includes additional information from Homepage visitors providing additional information, and to correct errors.  Now Rev. L, updated 10/12/04.  Batcat Bill Person has provided some unique perspective of the operation.  Read his article Sensors Go to War. For more information may I recommend the Batcats book. Added 08/06/06.

This 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Organizational Chart gives an overview of the wing and its various units which together was Batcat. My thanks to Chuck Silverstein for the document I used to create this image. Added 05/28/01.

This 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Welcome Booklet given to new arrivals. This booklet is dated July 1969 and contains a welcome letter, wing history, wing insignia information, plus information on housing, transportation, finances, required fees, required briefings, curfew, money, bars and clubs, off limit areas, and a base map.  My thanks to Lynn Gates for the document. NOTE this is a large file, about 1.6 Mega bytes. Added 06/04/07.

This is a list of the 24 individuals who lost their life while assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. The names of those 553rd members killed on operational missions are listed on two panels of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Memorial, on the Mall in Washington, D.C., here is an image of  Vietnam War Memorial Wall Panel 26W  with the names of those killed in the April 25, 1969 loss, and an image of  Vietnam War Memorial Wall Panel 18W  with the names of those killed in the Spetember 6, 1969 loss. I took both wall photos on April 19, 2004. While in Washington I checked with the Park Service and learned that only those individuals killed on operational missions are listed. The names of those who died by accident or from natural cause deaths are not included on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Updated 12/22/07.

Batcat People
Photos of 553rd Men and Women, Individual and Crew. Photo area Last updated 03/19/08.

Individual Contact Information. E-mail and other information. Contact area Last updated 05/10/08.

Looking for Others. Search area Last updated 04/20/08.

Personal Experiences. Personal Experiences area Last updated 01/01/08.

Batcat Patches and Flags
The 553rd Wing patch was designed by Mr. Milton Caniff, famous for his cartoon character "Steve Canyon."  The words "Cavete Cattam," translated from Latin mean - "Beware the Cat."  In addition to the wing patch there are many other Batcat patches. Click here for detailed information and images about the Batcat Patches and Flags! My thanks to the many who have sent me images, and those who sent me patches to scan. Patch area Updated 01/01/08.

the 388th Transportation Squadron
provided Batcat Aircrews Bus service

The 388th Transportation Squadron provided bus service for the 553rd Reconaissance Wing aircrews. Prior to each mission the bus traveled Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base to pick up the crewmembers. The bus first stopped at Wing Headquarters Life Support to so crews could pick up survival vests, and weapons. After the pre mission briefing the bus took the crew to the specific airplane for that mission. After return the bus picked up the aircrew for the post mission debriefing and return of Life Support equipment. After the post mission debriefing the bus returned the crew to their quarters. Shown here is an interior view of the crew bus as it returns the second Batcat crew 2, 553rd Squadron, at night after a mission dated 29 Jan. 1969, to the post mission debriefing. Note that Lt. Steve Rust still has his survival vest. Shown are Left to Right and to back: Lt. Steve Rust (CP); Lt. Jack Sikora (CICO); Major Dale Johnston (NAV); Tsgt. Hobson (ACICO); AIC Turman (CIM); AIC Mitchell (CIM). Crew bus view B&W, about 113K, added 12/02/07. My thanks to Jack Sikora for providing the image.

Blood Chit
In case of Misfortune
Aircrew carrier carried a Blood Chit on all combat missions as part of their survival gear. The Blood Chit said "I am a citizen of the United States of America. I do not speak your language. Misfortune forces me to seek your assistance in obtaining food, shelter and protection. Please take me to someone who will provide for my safety and see that I am returned to my people. My government will reward you." Blood Chit image about 131K, added 12/02/07. My thanks to Stuart Whipple for this image from his personal collection.

Snoopy, the 553rd's Mascot
During my tour with Batcat I had the opportunity to fly with Snoopy 1 time. At the time I was preparing to rotate back to the U.S. and had flown about 70 combat missions. If memory serves me right, Snoopy, at that time, had about 150 missions!! This first Snoopy image, Snoopy1.jpg was provided by Richard Weiner. Image about 45K. Paul Desrosiers sent me this article about Snoopy originally published in the  "TheSwadee Flyer", and also this photo Snoopy2.jpg, image about 51K. Click here to view the  Snoopy3.jpg image, about 28K, provided by Jim Bartholomew. Snoopy area Updated 10/23/01.  NOTE - I have been contacted by James "Robbie" Robinson who was Snoopy's handler for years.  He has agreed to write an article for this page with details of Snoopy, not only at Korat but also after he returned to the United States.  I look forward to receiving the article!! Added 06/11/05. This image of Snoopy4.jpg was taken Sept. 1, 1967, shortly Snoopy came to the wing. Image courtesy of Ed Thurston, color about 109K, Added 02/24/08.

Snoopy Returns Home
Ed Vickers sent me follow up information about Snoopy. While at Korat with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Snoopy accumulated either 145 combat missions. While at Korat Snoopy earned his wings. There was also the You Made It Award complete with Snoopy's signature! Note Snoopy's dog print along with wind commander Col. Ted Ostendorf's signature. Snoopy was well know and liked. To celebrate Snoopy's time at Korat a Press Conference was provided for journalists. Snoopy's departure was carried in the Bangkok Post newspaper, Saturday December 13, 1969 issue. NOTE - so you can read the text the image is large, about 655K. Thank you Ed Vickers for leaving the newspaper name, and date in the upper left corner. Images are 136K, 169K, 139K and 655K respectively. Snoopy's master, SSgt. James "Robbie" Robinson told me he returned safely to the U.S., passing away in Dallas in 1978. Added 04/20/08.

The Development Test Deployments
This information was originally part of this opening homepage.  As additional material has been added the opening homepage became rather large, so I decided to move some information to its own page.   Take a look here for Details of the Test Deployments to Develop the Aircraft Sensor System!  Included are text and images of the deployments.  This area moved to its own page on 4/21/02, Updated 10/29/03.

U.S. Navy Squadron VO-67 was the first unit
to plant the Sensors monitored by Batcat
Initially sensor drops were made by U.S. Navy squadron VO-67 using the Lockheed OP-2E, a modified P2V-5 Neptune aircraft equipped with a Norden bombsight.   Jimmie H. Butler's Homepage which details the efforts and sacraficies of  U.S. Navy Squadron VO-67.  Larry Gire has written a history of VO-67 detailing the sensor drop operation. UPDATE the VO-67 homepage has a new area which has listed all the books dealing with electronic warfare in Vietnam. Check out the VO-67 Book page. Added 11/03/02, Updated 09/16/07.

U.S. Navy Squadron VO-67 receives
the Presidential Unit Citation 12/21/07
VO-67 Association Vice President Bob Reynolds sent me this email - It is my pleasure to make a historic announcement. Observation Squadron Sixty-Seven ( VO-67 ) has received the Navy Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Vietnam War. This announcement, from the Secretary of the Navy, comes almost forty years after this unique ultra secret squadron performed with courage and valor along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and in support of the Marine combat base at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam in 1968. The order was signed December 21, 2007 by the Secretary of the Navy, the honorable Donald Winter.

Some interesting history: 1. No PUC’s have ever been awarded to either a P-2 Neptune or a P-3 Orion squadron in Naval history. Thirteen patrol squadrons received the PUC during WW-2. These units operated PBY-4 and PBY-5 aircraft.

Congratulations! from all Batcats to all of those members of VO-67 for this long over due and well deserved award!! Let no one forget that VO-67 lost 3 aircraft and 20 aircrew members during operational combat missions dropping sensors for Batcat to monitor. Added 12/29/07.

Images of the Sensors used by Batcat
Loading Sensors into a delivery Pod. Added 6/10/99, about 36K. Here are two more sensor images neptune.jpg, about 58K, of the Lockheed Neptune aircraft used to drop the sensors. Image sensor2.jpg, about 118K, shows the sensor just as it is leaving the Neptune pod. My thanks to Jeff Glasser, author of The Secret Vietnam War: The United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961-1975 for providing these sensor and Neptune images.

Bob Cumby sent me these images of sensors which are on display at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton, Florida. Here is a view of 6 types of Sensors monitored by Batcat. The ADSID was the most commonly used sensor, with the Commike audio sensor used only in limited circumstances. All images are color, about 42K, 54K and 32K respectively. Added 08/17/07.

The Batcat Orbits
Batcat 553rd Reconnaissance Wing missions were completed by flying orbits over specific areas of interest to monitor the sensors dropped by other aircraft.  Sometime back Randy Spencer supplied me with some printed information he recieved under the Freedom of Information Act about the Batcat orbits. I created a JPEG image, now revision D, of the eleven Batcat Orbits I know about. Not all orbits were flown all the time. Pink for example was an early orbit discontinued after a few months (Navigator Hank Green gave me a corrected Pink orbit during the 2001 reunion).  After first adding this image I learned of two additional orbits, both with the name BLACK. On this image they are labeled BLACK-1 and BLACK-2.  BLACK-1 was flown from 1967-1968, while BLACK-2 was a 1971 orbit.  Mike Burroughs and Bill Person provided details on what I call BLACK-1.  Dale Cullop provided the details of the BLACK-2 location, and also that this was a low altitude orbit, flown at 11,000 feet. All other orbits were normally flown at about 16,000 to 18,000 feet. Additional information from Jim Roth, via Jim Bartholomew, that this orbit was used for air traffic control for aircraft flying in Cambodia.  While researching the Batcats book I learned of an eleventh orbit, Orange, and this is now shown on the revision D of the orbits chart. Chart is now about 295K to achieve adequate detail.  Added 04/01/01, updated 05/30/05.

Project 972
Transporting the Sensors to Nakhom Phanom. It was the task of the 519th Transportation Battalion, to transport the sensors used by Batcat from their arrival at the deep water ports at Camp Vayama in Sattahip (near Utapoe RTAFB), up to Nakhom Phanom.  The mission was classified during the Vietnam War.  The 519th Transportation Association, Thailand, is presented by  Joe Wilson's Project 972  web page that details the work of the 569th Transportation Company as well as other units of the 519th  transportation Battalion in transporting the sensors. Included on this homepage is an interesting statement by Khe Sanh Marine Regiment commander Col. Lownds, about how the Marines felt about these sensors Batcat monitored 24 hours a day (submitted by Army LT Jose Benavides, USAR).  Added 5/02/02. Reunion Information
The 553rd Reconnaissance Wing has participated in 2 combined reunions, and the Return to Southeast Asia Reunion held in Bangkok, Thailand. click here for details on all 3 earlier reunions, plus information on the upcoming dedication and reunion at Wright Patterson AFB. Update 02/24/08.

Batcat Outreach Activities
Working with the Thai Civilian Community
Often and in many ways Batcat personnel took part in community outreach projects while in Thailand. Added 05/30/05, updated 06/12/05.

Homefront Award
Robin Collord sent this image of a Batcat Home Front Award presented to Mrs. Patti Collord. The award is signed by 553rd Reconnaissance Wing commander Col. Gus Wiser, and 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron commander Lt. Col. Donald Ewing. I had never seen this award before, but at the time of my assignment to Batcat I wasn't married. Color, about 201K, Added 02/18/06.

The Bat Label
Label for the 553rd Brew at the Bat Cave. My thanks to Chuck Silverstein for loaning me this very rare item to scan. Added 12/12/99. Bill Holbrook informed me that new arrivals were handed a can of Gusweiser beer upon arrival when the first units came to Korat in Oct. 1967!  UPDATE - Dag Weiser, son of the first 553rd Reconnaissance Wing commander, Gus Weiser, sent me some original labels.  Two of these labels are now in the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Updated 06/11/05.

the Sawadee Flyer was
Korat RTAFB Newspaper
Greg Moore sent these images of edition which detailed the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, turning two years old. Shown here in two parts. Part 1 and Part 2 together show the full article. Images about 516K and 546K respectively. Added 03/09/08.

Batcat License Plates
Take a look here to remember the flight line vehicles which carried the 553rd Batcat License Plate. My thanks to Dave Rindone for sending this image. Added 01/02/05.

Some states allow personalized license plates.  LeRoy "Roy" Fretschl owns this Batcat personalized license plate in the state of Maine.  My thanks to Roy for providing this Maine Batcat license plate.  Added 06/26/06.

Batcat CIM Log
Mike Burroughs has provided an image of an early version of the CIM Log. This version was in use until about July 1968.  Image about 92K, Added 1/17/04.

Songs from Korat 1968 - Batcat and 388th TFW
Songs from Korat 1968 available on CD. Batcats J.J. Smith and Bill Person were amoung those who created these songs. My thanks to Mike Burroughs who provided this information. Added 07/31/07.

Mike Burroughs who provided the words to the Connie Song in text format, about 4K. J. J. Smith provided the words to the Connie Song in PDF format, about 23K. Both Mike Burroughs and J.J. Smith, plus Bill Person and Charlie Bishop and others had a hand in writing the words. Added 02/24/08.

Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base
The War Years 1967-1971
Images of the base and the city. This information was originally part of this opening homepage. Due to size I decided to move some information to its own page. This is what Korat Royal Thai AFB Looked Like During the War Years 1967 - 1971!  Includes images of the Bob Hope show held at Korat RTAFB.  NEW 07/07/05 - now included are views of the inside of the Batcat Command Post.  I never saw the inside of the command post while at Korat, so I really appreciate Bob Look sending these images. This area moved to its own page on 4/21/02, Updated 03/19/08.

Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base
Today 2000-2001
Two homepage visitors, Ron Brown and Gene Ponce, have visited Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base Recently.  Take a look what Korat Royal Thai AFB Looks Like Today (2000-2001)!  These photos were taken by Ron Brown in July 2000,  and  Gene Ponce in March 2001.  Added 10/29/03.

Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base
World Parachute Meet 2004
Homepage visitor Jerry Felts sent me an e-mail about Korat being the base for a major parachute meet January and February 2004.  Here are some fine images of the World Parachute Team, click on News.  There are some fin overhead views of Korat RTAFB, here a sample overhead of Korat RTAFB 2004. Added 2/14/04.

1970 the Last 553rd Recon Wing EC-121R
at the changeover ceremony
Dave Shipton provided this Shark mouth EC-121R image. When the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing deactivated in December 1970, there was a turnover ceremony. This shark mouth painted Connie was the EC-121R which flew in the airshow at Korat for the turnover from 553rd to the 388th. The flight crew was, if I recall correctly, Lt. Col Given, Commander of the 553rd Recon Squadron, Maj. Wilson, MSgt. Dave Shipton and MSgt. Fred Duck. Added 02/18/07.

1971 the Very Last Lockheed EC-121R
departs Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base
After being disbanded as a wing on December 15, 1970, a few of the wing's EC-121R aircraft continued to fly out of Korat RTAFB as a squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.  This image, provided by Craig Lefevre, is a photograph of the last EC-121R to leave Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.  As the airplane departed for the last time it overflew Korat with Number 4 engine Feathered as a tribute to the fallen comrades of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing. The aircraft is sn 67-21478, and the departure date is December 6, 1971, aircraft commander is Don Robinson.  Route of flight was Korat to Guam, Wake, Hickam, Travis (dropped off some of our personnel) and into the bone yard at Davis Monthan AFB, arriving December 13, 1971. Added 1/25/04, updated 6/27/04. Ricky Dietsch was on board the last EC-121R Connie out. Here is an image taken out of the EC-121R of the Korat RTAFB ramp as the Connie flew over with the number 4 engine feathered. Rick provides this story of being a crew member on the Last Connie Out of Korat RTAFB. Image color, about 81K, story in PDF format, about 37K. Added 03/09/08.

Links to other sites with BATCAT,
USAF - Lockheed Constellation - Korat - Interest
Batcat was part of the overall Vietnam era Electronic Warfare "Igloo White" operation. Chris Jeppeson's Task Force Alpha and Igloo White homepage has considerable details. Added 07/25/99. With saddness I learned that Chris Jeppeson passed away on December 23, 2003.  His Igloo White site continues - and is well worth a visit!   Updated 06/11/05

Chuck Silverstein has information about aircraft service, mechanics, electronics, etc. Chuck is just starting his Batcat Aircraft Maintenance homepage. Added 9/29/99.

Retired MSgt. Dean Boys Air Force Page. Has a lot of information about he EC-121 Aircraft, both in the "R" version and the early warning versions. Dean Boys updates his homepage frequently. Well worth a visit!! Added 9/29/99.

Retired USAF Radio Operator SMSgt. A.J. Northrup's books "Fifty Fallen Stars" and "Fifty Fallen Stars and Beyond," about the 50 officers and enlisted men who lost their lives while flying on USAF early warning Connie's out of Otis AFB, MA, is now out of print. For more information e-mail A.J. Northrup.  Updated 01/07/08.

 
Last 553rd Reconnaissance Wing commander Col. Robert M. Slane has written a book detailing some of his experiences during his USAF career. Robert Slane's book is titled "Journey to Freedom and Beyond," and has just been published. "Journey to Freedom and Beyond" is available direct from Col. Slane (check or money order payment only) for $25.00 including shipping.  Or you can purchase direct from Trafford Publications. The price direct from the publisher is $25.99 plus shipping, however the publisher offers the conveience of being able to use a credit card. Here is detailed information about the book, and information on how to order in pdf format.  NOTE - I experienced a problem viewing this PDF document using multiple different browsers using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 6.0.  If you experience any problem, click the link "detailed information about the book, and information on how to order" with the right mouse button, then click "save target link as" and save the file to your disk.  Then it can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader fine.  The Adobe Acrobat problem only occurs with Reader version 6.0.0.  Just in case I've included the same information in an  ASCII Text File - it doesn't look quite as nice but all the information is there. Added 5/30/04.

Ron DeGroff has his own BatCat 14 Homepage. Ron is listed on the contact page. Please take a look. Added 4/15/01, updated 3/01/03.

William Keppel's father was an EC-121R pilot with the 553rd Reconnaissance wing during 1968-1969.  William's father passed away in 1993, now he has on his Homepage some of his Father's Photographs of Korat, and the EC-121R.  William purchased a new scanner to scan his father's slides. Added 10/20/01, updated 10/21/07.

The Official site of the Royal Thai Air Force. You may want to check their guest book friends who have visited their site. Added 3/11/00.

The Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood site has a lot of information and links to Thailand based units. Added 10/17/99.

Bill Person was involved with Batcat from the begining, take a look at the  Bill Person Homepage. Added 6/2/01.

Randy White's Homepage, http://www.lcompanyranger.com/.  Randy White was a member of Ranger Company L, 75th Infantry, 101st Airborne Divison, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol.  This unit operated a long distance from their home base.  When communications was difficult they often contacted Batcat for radio relay. Added 2/2/03.

Ralph M. Pettersen is a Lockheed Super Constellation enthusiast. He has an extensive Homepage which details the Constellation Surviror Homepage.  In addition there are many links to other Constellation sites.  Added 05/30/05.

Larry Hughes' SEA Call Sign Page. Added 06/01/01, updated 02/18/07.

The Vietnam War Years of Korat Royal Thai AFB. Added 10/17/99.

The The Kitchen Table Gang, by Charles R. Taliaferro. Added 10/2/00.

Grunts, The French Reenactment of Vietnam, USAF. Added 6/10/01.

Peterson AFB, Colorado has on display a Lockheed EC121T. This EC-121T is a converted EC-121D Airborne Early Warning version of the Connie.  (Some EC-121T's were converted from the EC-121H.)  This site has some nice interior views of the EC-121T. Added 06/11/05.

TREA - The Retired Enlisted Association. Site with information especially for enlisted of all services, including reunion information. Added 03/09/08.

The unofficial USAF Locator. Site with email, reunion and other information. Added 03/09/08.

Official USAF Biographies
Batcats who progressed on to General rank
The official US Air Force Site has changed the URL addresses for biographies multiple times.  Instead of having a pointer to the specific URL, I know have the biographies of those assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing who made general grade as PDF files. Each is about 20K in size.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL KELLY H. BURKE - added 3/01/03, updated 6/27/04.

MAJOR GENERAL VAN C. DOUBLEDAY - added 3/01/03, updated 6/27/04.

MAJOR GENERAL RALPH E. SPRAKER - added 6/27/04.

BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES L. BISHOP - added 3/01/03, updated 6/27/04.

to Larry & Sue Westin's Maine Homepage.