Three Development Deployements - 1967 page, was originally part of the opening Batcat page first created on 6/8/99, moved to its own page 4/21/02, Last updated 10/29/03.

Three Separate Test Deployments were used
to Develop the Batcat Aircraft/Sensor System

Operation "Pot Lid"

Chuck Silverstein, part of the initial group of airmen assigned to Batcat, provided me with information and images of two Batcat TDY's to Howard AFB, Canal Zone. This first TDYoccurred from April 28, 1967 to May 31, 1967.  Purpose of these TDY's was to evaluate the sensor/aircraft combination, and refine initial techniques to be used when Batcat went overseas. Here are some photo's, all provided by Chuck Silverstein, of the first TDY code named operation "Pot Lid."  Note the aircraft used has what appears to be a U.S. Navy paint scheme, carries the word "U.S. Air Force" and the tail number 67-21472. Tail number indicates this is the second EC-121R. View the images below carefully as you will note the antenna system on 21472 is slightly different then later "production" version of the EC-121R. You can contact Chuck at silvc@bellatlantic.net .

• Nose of 21472, note "Snoopy".
• Turning Number1. Note on the far left is a C-47, all the other aircraft on the ramp are C-46 Commando's.
• Ground troops awaiting the return of mission. Left to right - SMsgt. Ben Husted, Flight engineer and an individual who knew the engines; A1C Yingling; SSgt.Benoit;A1C Larry Curran, crew chief; and SSgt. Louis Gobron, know as "Lucky."


Operation "Dune Moon"

Al Bosse provides information about "Dune Moon" which started in late May, 1967 and took place at Eglin AFB. "I can only give you information from a maintenance stand point. The Crew chief types were Msgt Jones, Ssgt Hopkins, Steve Litchfield, a guy whose last name was Dillon, nicknamed Mat, and myself. They were doing some testing on the R models in conjunction with the sensors. The aircraft we had with us was 67-21472. An interesting side story was we had the nose gear door and the prop spinners painted with the Wonder Bread dots.

"We were quartered on, I believe field four in WWII officers quarters. Only had full baths no showers. They constructed outdoor showers for us because of the complaints. I used the bath tub. Couldn't get over my fear of snakes to walk outside and take a shower, who knows what a snake would bite. Near the quarters was a short runway. It was said that Jimmy Dolittle used this runway to practice his takeoffs for his raid over Tokyo. I stayed there for about 45 days and returned to Otis, I believe, in mid July. This deployment lasted until just before our move to Korat."

My thanks to Al Bosse at wetsu67@comcast.net for the Dune Moon information.
 


Second Batcat Deployment to Panama

Chuck Silverstein also participated in the second TDY to Panama, from Aug 25, 1967 to September 2, 1967. Purpose was "to participate in test and evaluation of aircraft." The aircraft used on that TDY was 67-21496. This image shows Lockheed Super Constellation receiving Maintenance in Panama. That is SSgt. Vasquez with his head in the accessory section; Engine specialist TSgt. McCoullough facing the camera; Crew Chief A1C Larry Curran in the fatigue shirt; and hydraulic system specialist SSgt. Benoit. Constellation Engine Maintenance. TSgt.McCoullough on the maintenance stand.

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