This area has information about Batcat Reunions and other USAF Connie Wing Reunions. Upcoming Reunion area added 08/29/09, Last updated 02/27/10.

IMPORTANT if a group of Batcats plan a reunion, and want to let others know, I'm happy to add that information here.

Those who were part of the first wave of Batcats, leaving Otis AFB for Korat in late 1967, are having a reunion. The first reunion meeting occurred in Las Vegas on January 10, 2010. Here is an image of 17 of the 1st Wave Batcats who attended the January Las Vegas meeting. From left to right Gil Jennings, Frank Butler, Dave Boyd, Cliff Jensen, Bob Parmenter, Denny Phillips, Joe Berlotti, Barny Barnhart, Chip Pudims, LD Bokovoy, Rick Weiner, Bill Schmeiding, Dickie Upton, Ed Schuppenhauer, Bill Love, Pat Barrett, and Hank Smith. Not Shown - Richard Ertz. Or click here for the list of names. Image is color, about 156K.

UPDATE 02/27/10 - the dates for the 1st Wave Batcat Reunion set for October 4 to 7, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Full details available at 1st Wave 553rd Recon Wing 2010 Reunion page. The 1st Wave Reunion page now has the registration form and other recent updates. The Batcat 1st Wave Reunion primary contact person is Dennis Phillips, email Dennis at dennisp@nadel.com. 1st Wave Reunion information first added 10/18/09, updated 02/27/10.

Upcoming 551st AEW&C Wing 2010 Reunion
Dayton, Ohio - August 12 to 15, 2010
The 551st AEW&C Wing 2010 Reunion will be held at Dayton, Ohio August 12th through August 15th, 2010. We will be using the Holiday Inn Fairborn. Rate is $99 per night with a Breakfast Buffet. Banquet on the 14th in the Museum with the Officers club catering it. Restoration tour will be on Friday morning. Have not settled on a Memorial yet. For further information please contact the primary Contact for the 551st AEW&C Reunion:

John Loftus at jloftus@comcast.net or
420 Jefferson Ave
Edgewater Park, NJ 08010
Home (609) 386-1318
Cell (609) 923-7260

Added 01/19/10, updated 01/19/10.

Completed Recent Get Togethers
Bill Love let me know of a get together at Spark Nevada. Several of the EMT's are getting together next month for a mini-reunion.Planned for September 17th until the 20th. Anyone else that served with 553rd is welcome to join us. Point of Contact is Bill Love, who can be reached via email at w.p.love@sbcglobal.net or via telephone at (469) 834-4510. At this time it is expected that Bill Love, Ken Lowe, Jerry Peppenger, Bob Malone, Ron DeGroff, Tome Pera, and possibly Pete Werner and John Baldwin will attend. Hope to see you there!! Added 08/29/09.

Cliff Jensen and Rick Weiner organized a get together at the Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. Attending were Rick Weiner, Cliff Jensen, Al Pudims, Bob Parmenter and Don(LD) Bokovoy. In addition there was a call in session for other Batcats to telephone in. Here is a synopsis of the 2009 Las Vegas Mini Reunion with a not from Cliff Jensen's wife Chris. Here are some images taken in Las Vegas. Here are the 5 Batcats together with Rio hostess, color about 132K. Lef to Right Al Pudims, Rick Weiner, Marianne Heilig, the events coordinator from the Rio Hotel, Bob Parmenter, Don "LD" Bokovoy, and Cliff Jensen. For her assistance the guys made Rio events cooridnator Marianne Heilig an honoary Batcat with this certificate. Color, about 112K. Here are some views of the event, Bob Parmenter relaxing, color about 115K. Guys making some phone calls in the room, color, about 140K. The Rio's "chow hall", color, about 118K. Added 08/29/09.


Return to the Main Batcat homepage.

Return Home to Larry and Sue's Homepage.