Pacific Air Forces also known as PACAF. My thanks to Mike Yates for providing this image. Added 12/13/99, about 71K.
13th Air Force one of the two major Air Forces that the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing reported to. Added 12/04/02, about 21K.
7-13th Air Force Air Force units based in Thailand, of which the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing was one such unit, came under the control of both 7th Air Force (operational control) and 13th Air Force (administrative control). I found this patch at the D'Militaria collectibles shop in Arlington, Texas. Don't know how official it is, but it is unique. Added 12/04/02, about 43K.
7th Air Force was the major Air Force which exercised operational control over Batcat. Added 4/01/03, about 30K.
Batcat Wing Patch
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 of the Cat."
This is the Original 553rd Patch which is very similar to the EMS/FMS/OMS patches shown below. This patch was superseeded by the official Batcat patch by Mr. Milton Caniff. My thanks to homepage visitor Ed Wier for providing the image. Added 02/18/07, about 57K. BATCAT 553rd Reconnaissance Wing patch (full size), color, about 25K. The description and meaning of the BATCAT Wing Patch by its designer, Mr. Milton Caniff. Herb Weaver sent me this image of Small size 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Patch, color, about 16K, Added 12/05/04. The Batcat patch is, in my opinion, one of the finest designs in the Air Force. After the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing deactivated in Dec. 1970, the patch went dormat. Later the patch was used again. A few years ago the Air Force reviewed its patches and decided to simplify them. Take a look at the patch as it used toady by the 353 Special Operations Group. NOTE the unit is now the 353rd, not 553rd. Color, about 37K, Added 12/04/02.
David Pipher sent me a nice write up on the Batcat patch in Word format. I took his Word document and converted it to WordPerfect and Adobe Acrobat PDF formats. Here is an explanation of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing patch in 553rd Patch in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format, 553rd Patch in Microsoft Word DOC Format, and 553rd Patch in Corel WordPerfect WPD Format. Except for format all 3 files are identical, just a different format to what ever works best for you. Each format has an image of the patch along with the explanation of the various symbols of the patch. >Added 10/23/05.
Several Batcat Homepage visitors have asked about the availability of the Batcat Wing patch. At one time I had 50 reproductions made, but those are now gone. Former 553rd EMS Batcat Chuck Gascoigne found a steady source for the Batcat Wing patch at Saunders Military Insignia in Florida. When the Homepage comes up do a search for 553rd (be sure you enter it as 553rd with the rd at the end, not just 553, or Batcat). At this time the cost is shown as $25.00 plus shipping of $3.00. UPDATE - two Batcats have told me it takes quite a long time to receive the patches from Saunders Military Insignia, although both individuals DID received the patches. Added 05/30/05. Batcat Mark Hoffman sent me this image of his Saunders Batcat Patch with a butane lighter next to the patch for a size comparison. Added 05/30/05, Updated 12/29/07.
Bill Herridge, who can be reached via e-mail at bill.herridge.b4wn@statefarm.com, has Batcat Wing patches available for $7 each including shipping. These were made by the same company who I had make them for the 2001 reunion. Bill wanted a patch and at the time none were available, so he had these made. The company required the same minimum order for 50 wihich I encountered. Bill doesn't need all 50 so he is willing to sell you a patch from his excess. I know the patches I took to the 2001 reunion are of good quality. Added 06/11/05.
The Hundred mission patches were the same for both the 553rd and 554th Reconnaissance Squadrons. Randy Spencer flew 104 missions with Batcat and earned these patches! My thanks to Randy for loaning me his patches, first and second types, so I could scan them. My thanks to Herb Weaver for sending me the third type 100 mission patch. 100 Mission Patch - First type. Color, about 30K. 100 Mission Patch - Second type. Color, about 33K. 100 Mission Patch - Third type. Color, about 49K. Added 11/26/05.
553rd Electronic Maintenance Squadron. My thanks to Jake Awalt who provided this image of the 553rd EMS patch. Later the squadron was named the 553rd Avionics Maintenance Squadron. Color, about 34K, added 08/06/06.
553rd Field Maintenance Squadron. My thanks to Chuck Silverstein who provided this image of the 553rd FMS patch. Color, about 17K.
553rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron. My thanks to Paul Albrecht, and his son Sean Albrecht, for scanning the 553rd OMS patch. Color, about 17K, added 3/26/01.
553rd Reconnaissance Squadron patch, color, about 25K - NOTE this is actually a reproduction patch. Herb Weaver sent this image of an Original 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron Patch, color, about 68K. Added reproduction patch 12/04/99. Original patch added 12/05/04.
554th Reconnaissance Squadron patch, color, about 28K. My Thanks to Bill Person who sent me this image of a second, variation of 554th RS Patch. Color, about 17K, Added 12/28/00.
Detachment 1 of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Nakhom Phanom, when the QU-22A's firs started operations in Thailand, they were assigned as Detachment 1, 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Nakhom Phanom. The Latin words "Parvulu Vespertilio" loosely mean "Baby Bat" (that information from the official unit history). This patch image provided by Herb Weaver, Color, about 50K, Added 2/06/05.
After the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing disbanded, the 553rd Squadron was assigned to the 388th TFW and remained at Korat. At that time Detachment 1 of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, was reassigned as the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron. By this time they were flying the improved Beech QU-22B Mini Bats from NKP. The QU-22B's were now a squadron, where as before they were a detachment. This is an image of the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron Patch while flying the QU-22B, my thanks to Jack Hallett for providing the image. You can find a link to Jack Hallett's QU-22 Homepage on the main Batcat Homepage. Color, about 6K, added 10/21/01.
Aircrew Patches and Flags
I've tried to standardize all aircrew patch images with the same naming convention. An example of my aircrew patch photo file naming convention - "bccp05-1.jpg." BCCP indicates BatCat Crew Patch, 05 is for crew number 5, and -1 means which aircrew number 5 used this patch, in this case the first crew assigned as crew number 5.
An example of my aircrew flag photo file naming convention - " bccf08-2.jpg." BCCF indicates Bat Cat Crew Flag, 08 is for crew number 8, and -2 means which aircrew number 8 used this flag, in this case the second crew assigned as crew number 8.
Crew numbers appear to have repeated approximately three times. First crews at Korat from about Nov 67 to Oct 68, images for crews during this period have a -1 at the end of the file name. Second crews at Korat from about Nov 68 to Oct 69, images for this period have a -2 at the end of the file name. Third and last crews at Korat from about Nov 69 to Dec 70, images for this period have a -3 at the end of the file name. The crew dash numbers are not official, rather a naming convention I developed to keep track of the images.
Image bccp02-1.jpg. Ronald van der Krogt in Holland originally sent me this image of a Batcat patch. For a long time it was labeled as a mystery patch. Now Darrel Rook sent me an email to let me know this was the crew patch for the first crew 2. Added 12/02/04, updated 12/26/05, Color, about 40K.
Image bccp05-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 5 Patch. My thanks to Mike Jones, who provided this first Crew 5 patch. Image about 73K, added 7/4/00.
Image bccp05-2.jpg is the second crew 5 patch. My thanks to MSgt. Tom Forth, USAF Retired, for this image. Added 6/16/00, color, about 41K.
Image bccp07-2.jpg "The Tigers Lair - Ahners Pride" is the moto on this crew 7 patch. Patch image provided by Terry Aitken Senior Curator at the USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB. This patch came as a gift to the USAF Museum, the crew time frame is not known, the patch was on a party suite owned by Lt. Col. Ahner. Please contact me if you have additional information about this crew 7 patch. Added 11/26/01, color, about 44K. Stuart Whipple contacted me to let me know he, and SSgt Ron(?) Smeets were the designers of the patch. From his time frame I concluded this was the second crew 7 patch (previously labeled as "X"). Updated 12/26/02.
Image bccp08-2.jpg "Bertram's Bengals" is the moto on this second crew 8 patch. Image bccf08-2.jpg shows the crew flag for the second crew 8. My thanks to Jim Bertram for these images. Added 9/02/02, color, patch about 82K, flag about 68K.
Image bccp10-1.jpg "Flings Ferrets" is the moto on this third crew 10 patch. My thanks to David Dotson for this image. Added 5/27/03, color, about 75K.
Image bccp10-3.jpg "Make Love Not War" is the moto on this third crew 10 patch. My thanks to Mike Yates for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 73K.
Image bccp14-1.jpg is the first crew 14 patch, "Lefferts' Lepers." My thanks to Robin Collord for sending this image. Added 02/18/06, color, about 109K.
Image bccp14-2.jpg is the second crew 14 patch. My thanks to Dave Pipher for sending this image. Added 12/17/99, color, about 52K.
Image bccp15-2.jpg is the second crew 15 patch, "Letang's Gang." My thanks to Mike Yates for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 72K.
Image bccp15-3.jpg is the third crew 15 patch,"Barwick's Buzzards." My thanks to Mike Yates for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 78K.
Image bccp26-2.jpg is the second crew 26 patch, "Almond's Nut's." My thanks to Randy Spencer who provided the patch for me to scan. Color, about 52K.
Image bccp27-1.jpg is the first crew 27 patch, "Ryan's Roadrunner's." My thanks to Richard Ertz who provided the patch for me to scan. Added 06/17/08, Color, about 86K.
Image bccp27-2.jpg the second crew 27 patch with the crew name "Guano." My thanks to Jim McCune who provided the image. NOTE - I originally labeled this as the third crew 27 as an estimate of which group it belonged to. Paul Hasz wrote to say this patch came earlier than the third group, that (he believes) one of the CIM's on the crew designed this second crew 27 patch. So on 06/11/05 I renamed the patch to bccp27-2.jpg. Color, about 78K. Added 09/07/04, updated 10/23/05,(corrected wording).
Image bccp28-3.jpg is the third crew 28 patch, "Figmo." My thanks to Lonnie Blankenship who provided this image. Color, about 30K. Added 12/10/00. Here is another bccp28-3b.jpg, this is an earlier patch than the first bccp28-3.jpg. Lt. Col. Jones was the aircraft commander for crew 28, and was the pilot involved in the September 6, 1969 loss at Korat with crew 40. After that crash Lt. Col. Aldridge took over as aircraft commander of crew 28. The first third crew 28 patch is that used when Lt. Col. Aldridge was a/c. The bccp28-3b.jpg patch is the crew patch used when Lt. Col. Jones was a/c. Lonnie Blankenship brought this crew patch to my attention, he was a crew member under both aircraf commanders, provided the explanation for having two patches in this one time frame. Second patch added 12/05/04 from Herb Weaver, updated information as to why two patches provided by Lonnie Blankenship with the info added 2/06/05.
Image bccp29-2.jpg is the second crew 29 patch, "Recky Rogues." My thanks to Dave Smith who provided the patch image. Color, about 45K.
Image bccp30-2.jpg is the second crew 30 patch, "Gang-Green." My thanks to Lt. Cmdr James L. (Jim) Green USCGR, son of aircraft commander Lt. Col. Lewis U. Green Jr., for this patch image. Color, about 54K. Added 11/19/03.
Image bccp31-3.jpg is the third crew 31 patch, "Steens Studs," the 554th's Stan/Eval Crew. My thanks to Chuck Walter for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 15K.
Image bccp32-2.jpg is the second crew 32 patch, "Troop 32." My thanks to Mike Burroughs who sent me this image. Color, about 51K. Added 6/1/01.
Image bccp33-3.jpg is the third crew 33 patch, "Appling's Piecemakers." My thanks to Paul Desrosiers who sent me this image. Color, about 52K.
Image bccp34-2.jpg is the second crew 34 patch, "Snake Strokers." My thanks to Bobby Morris who sent me this image. Color, about 28K. Added 4/15/01.
Image bccp38-1.jpg is the first crew 38 patch, "Lawton's Losers." My thanks to Bob Harper who sent my this image. Color, about 23K. Added 5/17/02.
Image bccp38-3.jpg is the third crew 38 patch, "Top Cats Dee Yiem." My thanks to chuck Walter for this image. Added 12/14/99, color, about 35K.
Image bccp39-1.jpg is the first crew 39 patch, "Urass." My thanks to Daniel Marquez for this image. Added 02/18/06, color, about 12K.
Image bccp39-2.jpg is the second crew 39 patch, "Heller's Hellers," Major Heller aircraft commander. This is the crew which was lost on April 25, 1969. My thanks to Bill Zaleski for providing this patch. Color, about 43K. Added 12/26/02.
Image bccp41-2.jpg is the second crew 41 patch, "Fearless Forty One - Headhunters," Major Oliver aircraft commander. From webmaster Larry Westin, who was assigned to this crew at Korat, Color, about 33K.
Batcat OBR 69, originally shown above as "Mystery Patch #2. Paul Ray provided information which identifies this as the "Order of the Broken Rung," an O'Club 553rd group of partiers that met anytime the situation warranted. I have the final gavel and patch from the last meeting in Dec 1970 prior to our freedom flight as the Wing was reduced to a Squadron. Original OBR Patch added by Herb Weaver, added 12/05/04 as a mystery patch. Patch moved to "Other Patches" area with the information provided by Paul Ray. Paul Ray sent me an image of his Batcat OBR 70 Patch. Added 12/29/07, updated 01/01/08.
EC-121R Aircraft Patch. My thanks to Mike Yates for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 11K.
My thanks to Bill Person who sent me this second version of a Lockheed EC-121R Patch. Color, about 10K, added 12/28/00.
Southeast Asia Wargames Participant 69-70 Patch. My thanks to Mike Yates for this image. Added 12/13/99, color, about 75K. Herb Weaver sent me this second variant of the Southeast Asia Wargames Participant Patch, color, about 56K, added 12/05/04.
Thailand Patch. My thanks to Chuck Walter for sending this image. Added 12/14/99, color, about 28K.
My Thanks to Bill Person who sent this image of the unique patch Ho Chi Minh Trail Rustlers - 750 Combat Hours. Color, about 12K, added 12/28/00.
Yankee Air Pirate Patch. My thanks to Randy Spencer for providing this patch for me to scan. Randy reports the wing rather "frowned" on this patch, and it was worn on "party suits" at the club. Color, about 20K, added 12/7/99. Bill Person provided another version of the Yankee Air Pirate #2. Color, about 14K, second version added 12/28/00.
to Larry and Sue's Homepage.