Westin's 553rd Recon Wing Batcat Page, EC-121R and Korat Page

This area has images of the personnel assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing.

Entries after 4/11/00 show who to credit for the image. If that person has authorized his/her e-mail on the contact page then I will not add an e-mail contact here. Rather I'll indicate to check the contact page.

Shown here is a group photo of the 388th Motor Pool Drivers at Korat. The 388th Motor Pool provided transportation to the 553rd Recon Wing at Korat. My thanks to Ron Bogota for providing this photo. B&W, about 54K, Added 05/26/00.

Flight Surgeon Dr. John Arrington and Mason Ezzell Pilot on the second crew 31. My thanks to Mason Ezzell for providing this image. B&W, about 434K, Added 06/19/14.

553rd FMS at the Barracks Left to right; Sgt. Paul Barry, Sgt. Bob Phillips, and Sgt. Mickey Bassett at the 553rd FMS barracks. My thanks to Paul Barry for the photo, taken about August 1970. B&W, about 49K, Added 04/28/03.

Shown in front of the 553rd Life Support Equipment Section Building is Ron Bogota. Ron was a Crew Bus Driver, normally driving those of us in the 554th Recon Squadron (e-mail in contact area). B&W, about 39K, Added 05/26/00.

Bob Bulen congratulated upon completing 100 Combat Missions. This photo was taken as Bob Bulen, sitting on the left, is congratulated upon completing 100 combat missions by aircraft commander Maj. Ted Beresford, standing shaking hands with Bob Bulen. Bob was assigned to the second crew 14 and would go on to complete 142 combat missions. My thanks to Charlotte Clinger for providing this image. B&W, about 76K, Added 04/15/15.

Lt. Col. Kelly Burke. Lt. Col. Burke moved from Batcat to Bangkok as 7th/13th Air Force Liaison officer to MACTHAI, the U.S. Embassy, and the Royal Thai Air Force. Kelly Burke achieved the rank of Lieutenant General before he retired. My thanks to Kelly Burke for this image. B&W, about 107K, Added 03/29/07.

1 Lt. Chuck Butt. 1 Lt. Chuck Butt waa the co-pilot on the second crew 39. My thanks to Chuck Butt for this image. Color, about 257K, Added 11/01/22.

Lt. Thomas Daly on the ramp getting ready for a mission. Tom Daly is wearing the standard USAF flight suit, survival vest, and parachute harness. Parachutes were kept in overhead racks in the airplane. If it became necessary to bailout the crew member took a parachute down from the overhead and clipped it onto the harness. There is a switch blade knife in a special pocket on his flight suit at the left thigh (right leg looking at the photo) attached with a lanyard. Knife was used to cut 4 marked parachute riser lines to give more parachute controllability AFTER the parachute opened. An empty holster for a Smith and Wesson model 15 revovler with 4 inch barrel in .38 caliber. Crew member holsters remained empty until after take off. This image courtesy of Tom Daly. B&W, about 406K, Added 11/01/20.

Mike Damiano on right, Glenn Messerli on left. Glenn Messerli was a navigator, 1 Lt. Mike Damiano was a CICO on the first crew 39 CICCO. My thanks to Chuck Butt for this image. Color, about 319K, added 11/01/22.

A1C Peter Eastman (standing) and TSgt. Ron Brunnabend (seated). This image courtesy of Peter Eastman. Color, about 46K, Added 03/17/02.

Typical flight gear worn by Joe Gonzales. This shot was taken after the return from a mission. Photo courtesy of Joe Gonzales (e-mail in contact area). Color about 22K, Added 04/17/00.

Crew Chiefs Ron Grayson and Bill Clontz for aircraft 67-21499 "Centurion." Ron and Bill shared Crew Chief duty for this airplane. Bill Clontz painted the Roman Soldier on the nose gear door. Photo sent by Ron Grayson. Updated 11/30/99.

Major Archibald "Arch" Heckler on right, Glenn Messerli on the left. Arch Heckler was the A/C on the first crew 39. Glenn Messerli was a Navigator on crew 39. My thanks to Chuck Butt for this image. Color, about 250K, Added 11/01/22.

Here is an image of Aircraft Commander LTC Barwick hosing down ACICO Larry Norris after his last mission, Larry's mission number 104. Larry Norris was kind enough to send me this image. B&W, about 169K, Added 02/06/15.

Dave Pipher. My thanks to Dave Pipher who was kind enough to send me this image. Color, about 78K, Added 12/17/99.

This view shows something which occurred before every flight, Preflight and Wait! My thanks to Dick Baker who provided this image of a typical preflight and wait scene. Known names are listed here. Photo is color, about 50K, added 03/11/00, names updated 07/08/09.

SSgt. William Prescott and SSgt. Valot. This image provided curtousey of Joe Gonzales (e-mail in contact area). About 26K, Added 04/17/00.

MSgt. Jerald Pruitt as he was getting ready to board the airplane for return to the US. This image provided curtousey of Thomas Daly. Color, about 146K, Added 11/01/20.

Navigator 1st Lt. Clark W. "Bill" Robinson inflight view. This image provided curtousey of Craig Charlton. About 391K, Added 12/04/14.

Shown in front of a 554th Crew Bus, is Tim Robinson. Tim normally drove the 553rd Recon Squadron crews but was standing next to Ron Bogota's bus for this Nov. 1968 photo. Photo courtesy of Ron Bogota (e-mail in contact area). Added 05/26/00, B&W, about 36K.

Shown in flight is 554th Navigator Major Larry Schwartzman. Photo courtesy of Larry Schwartzman. B&W, about 230K, Added 08/21/18.

Sgt. Chuck Silverstein. This image provided curtousey of Chuck Silverstein. View taken inflight over Vietnam at 20,000 feet, Oct. 19, 1967, during the first deployment of Batcat to Korat. About 36K, Added 03/17/02.

Randy Spencer. Randy was kind enough to loan me his Batcat collection to scan and add to this homepage. Randy achieved a milestone while flying at Korat, he flew 104 missions with Batcat! Date of this photo is February 1970. My thanks to Randy Spencer About 27K, Color, added 12/09/99, updated 11/23/05.

James Stacy (left) and Bill Holbrook (right) during the delivery of 67-21474 from Otis to Korat, Nov. 1967. My thanks to Bill Holbrook for this photograph. Photo taken inflight near the rear crew rest area, by the rear exit door. Color, about 36K, added 01/30/00, updated 11/23/05.

Mike Yates. Mike Yates has sent a number of images which are now part of this homepage. B&W, about 51K, added 12/15/99, updated 11/23/05.

Christmas at Korat. Left to right, TSgt Tom Tasaki, Radio Operator Crew 40, SSgt Larry Logsdon, Flight Engineer Crew ??, SSgt Les Robbins, CIM Crew 40, and SSgt Lawrence 'Larry' Luedke, Flight Engineer Crew ?? B&W, about 126K. My thanks to Les Robbins for sending this photo. Added 06/07/09.

John Urban and Mike Perry(RO) near the barracks February 1970. Image courtesy of Jim Coffman. Color, about 111K. Added 07/08/09.

Training at Otis Photographs
Lynn Gates sent along this crew photo taken at Otis AFB during training. I haven't seen other crew photos taken at Otis, so this is somewhat unique. Image otis14-3.jpg is a crew photo taken at Otis AFB during trainning, provided by crew member Lynn Gates. Based on when the photo was taken I'm guessing it was training to be part of the third group of aircrew at Korat. Here is a list of the Otis crew 14-3 names. Crew photo about 110K, added 05/07/05.

Tom Sear sent along this crew photo taken at Otis AFB during training. Image otis21-2.jpg is a the second crew 21 which trained at Otis AFB. Here are the Otis crew 21-2 names. Crew photo about 118K, added 07/18/12.

Stu Whipple sent this photo taken at Otis AFB during training. Image of Cape Cod taken from an EC-121R. This image shows the entire cape. B&W, about 60K, added 06/12/13.

The "Party Suites"
The Party Suit information and images moved to it's own page at the Party Suit page. Party Suit information moved to it's own page 07/30/14.

Last Flight at Korat of the
554th Reconnaissance Squadron

George Dearman sent me this image of the front end crew for the last 554 Reconnaissance Squadron mission. Here are the names of the full crew for the last 554 Reconnaissance Squadron mission. When the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing disbanded in December 1970, the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron was reassigned to the 388TFW, while the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron was disbanded from flying the EC-121R, with Detachment 1 of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Nakhom Phanom then using becoming the 554th Squadron flying the QU-22B Baby Bats. Added 06/12/05.

Korat RTAFB Aircrew Photographs
I've tried to standardize all aircrew images with the same naming convention. An example of my aircrew photo file naming convention - " bcc05-1.jpg." BCC indicates BatCatCrew, 05 is for crew number 5, and -1 means the first aircrew assigned with this crew number.

Virtually all the images I have are in jpeg (jpg) format. With few exceptions each image ranges in size from about 20K to a maximum of about 270K. Some may be a little smaller or bigger, all are a size which normally can be e-mailed without causing any problem with your mail server.

Korat RTAFB Crew Time Frames - Approximate
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. Second crews at Korat from about Nov 68 to Oct 69, images for this period have a -2 at the end of the file. 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. Hope I have not confused you too much. In some cases there are exceptions.

Unknown Crew 1 Photo. This image was sent by Peter Bono, but he could not remember what the crew number was. Please take a look. Known Crew Names are here. If you can provide the crew number, or more information, please contact me or Peter Bono at Peter11731@cs.com or Dale Waller stepndale@yahoo.com. Peter and Dale were part of the first crews to arrived in Nov. 1967. A/C was Major Donald Gatchel. Photo about 44K, added 3/11/00, crew name info updated 5/26/00.

Unknown Crew 2 Photo. This image was sent by Bill Barrett, crew Radio Operator, but he could not remember what the crew number was. Please take a look. Known Crew Names are here. Additional name added 01/08/12 by John Crowson. If you can provide the crew number, or more information, please contact me or Bill Barrett at barretts1@century.net. Photo about 72K, added 07/20/08, updated 01/08/12.

Unknown Crew 3 Photo. This image was sent by Elizabeth (Helfrich) Rothgeb, daughter of A/C Lt. Col. Helfrich. Please take a look. Known Crew Names are here. If you can provide the crew number, or more information, please contact Larry Westin at westin@westin553.net. Names updated by Cliff Jensen, Jim Satterwhite, Richard Upton and Don Bokovoy 11/07/09. Crew members so far identified are from different crews, so this may have been a composite crew for this mission. Photo about 131K, added 10/26/08, updated 11/07/09.

Unknown Crew 4 Photo. This image was sent by Mark Wakefield, son of Batcat James Wakefield, who was an EWO with the 553rd from June 1969 to May 1970. If you can provide the crew number, or more information, please contact Larry Westin at westin@westin553.net. Photo about 109K, added 12/27/16.

bcc01-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 1 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image provided by crewmember Ted Red. Here is a list of the known first crew 1 names. Joe Fuller emailed me two additional names which added to the correct first crew 1 names on 12/26/05. Doug Cedras sent 3 more names, and corrections to others on 08/29/06. If you can fill in the missing names please contact me. Crew photo about 65K, added 02/02/05, updated 08/29/06.

bcc01-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 1 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image provided by crewmember Billy W. Borror. Here is a list of the known second crew 1 names. Crew photo about 182K, added 09/15/08, names updated added 07/24/09.

bcc01-3.jpg is the third Batcat Crew 1 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image provided by crewmember Billy W. Borror. Here is a list of the known third crew 1 names. Crew photo about 182K, added 09/15/08.

Image bcc02-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 2 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image and names provided by aircraft commander Elmer Pool. Here is a list of the known second crew 2 names. Crew photo about 156K, added 12/26/05.

Image bcc03-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 3 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image and names provided by crew member Ralph Blankenship. Here is a list of the known first crew 3 names. Crew names by Ralph Blankenship, Doug Schmidt, and Ben Rivett. Crew photo about 67K, added 02/18/06, last updated 05/17/22.

Image bcc03-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 3 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image and names provided by crew member Jerry Montrose. Here is a list of the known second crew 3 names. Crew names by Jerry Montrose. This is an image, montrose001a.jpg, of a crew 3 get together at a downtown Korat resturant. Back side of the image, montrose001b.jpg, are the crew names. Crew party image by Jerry Montrose. Crew photo about 152K, party image about 148K, back side image about 152K. added 11/24/11.

Image bcc04-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 4 Photo, Major Lee Royal Aircraft Commander. After transfering from Batcat, Maj. Royal was later killed in SEA, this photo of the crew was provided by Mike Royal, Maj. Royal's son. Here is a list of the first crew 4 names. Note the names came from an image of a hand written list sent to me by Mike Royal. Some of those names were difficult to read, If I made an error on any name, please let me know and I will correct the mistake. My thanks to Dick Anderson for correcting the spelling of names. Crew photo about 45K, added 12/10/00, names updated 03/28/2019.

Image bcc04-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 4 Photo. Image provided by Dave Brown Jr., son of Aircraft Commander Dave Brown Sr., and updated by crewmember Jim Jorgensen. Name corrected by Craig Charlton. Here is a list of the second crew 4 names. Crew image about 288K, added 09/27/09, last updated 11/22/14.

In e-mail conversations with Homepage visitors I have encountered a so far unique situation where I have two different photos which both appear to be the first Batcat crew 5. I'm going to include both here. Photo "A" image bcc05-1a.jpg of the first Batcat Crew 5 Photo, about 43K. Here is a list of the known first crew 5 photo "A" names. Image and names provided by Dan Kilburn, crew 5 CICO. The second image of the first Batcat crew 5 comes from Mike Jones. Photo "B" image bcc05-1b.jpg is also the first Batcat Crew 5 Photo. Image provided by Mike Jones. Here is a list of the known first crew 5 photo "B" names. NOTE - indirectly I received an email from Peggy Hinkle adding TSgt. McCollum's name to the crew 5B list. First crew 5 photo "B" names further updated by Bob Bulen postal letter, names further updated by Mike Jones, names for photo 5B last updated 06/11/16. Crew photo about 63K, added 07/04/00, updated 01/01/10.

Image bcc05-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 5 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image provided by MSgt. Tom Forth, USAF Retired. Here is a list of the known second crew 5 names. All but 2 of the names are recorded, Brian French, son of navigator William French, found his father's original crew photo with all the names written on the back. My thanks to Brian French for sending the missing names. Crew photo about 25K, added 06/16/00, names updated 01/02/10.

Image bcc05-3.jpg is the third Batcat Crew 5 Photo, 553rd Recon Squadron. Image provided by TSgt. Clyde Jelinek, USAF Retired. Here is a list of the known third crew 5 names. Additional names added by crewmember John Urban, and Rod Bennett. If you can fill in more missing names please contact me. Crew photo about 67K, added 02/01/07, updated 01/15/11. Now have a second image, bcc05-3b.jpg, of the third crew 5. Image sent by crew member Jim Coffman. Here are the third crew 5 names for the second image. The second third crew 5 image was taken January 1970. B&W, about 124K, added 08/02/08.

Image bcc06-1.jpg, image provided by crew member Joe Hackling, via Cliff Jensen. Here are the the first crew 6 member names. Added 04/29/10, about 191K.

Image bcc06-3.jpg, image provided by crew member Terrel Wade. Here are the known the third crew 6 member names. Crew member Tim Adams updated names 04/01/18. Crew member Frank Montarelli updated names 04/06/18 and 02/08/19. Crew image about 201K, added 10/13/11, names last updated 02/08/19. Here is a second image of the third crew 6 bcc06-3b.jpg, known names of the second image of the third crew 6 bcc06-3b.txt. Second image of the third crew 6, and names provided by Frank Montarelli. Second third crew 6 image about 132K, and second third crew 6 names added 04/07/18 with crew names last updated added 02/08/19. Frank Montarelli sent me another third crew 6 photo bcc06-3c.jpg, and list of known bcc06-3c.txt are the crew names for the bcc06-3c.jpg image. Third image of the third crew 6, and names for the crew provided by Frank Montarelli. This third crew 6 image about 265K, and this third crew 6 names added 02/08/19.

Image bcc07-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 7 Photo. Image provided by Jerry Peppenger, who can be seen at the front row right. These are the names now available for the first crew 7. If you can add other names please contact Larry Westin. Gerald Boisen provided additional names for the first crew 7. Daniel Marquez provided another name for the first crew 7. Elizabeth Ray, daughter of navigator Gerald C. Grotz, added a name for the first crew 7 and provided a higher resolution image. Steve Rapko provided and corrected names. First added 08/16/99, Updated 08/26/22, crew image about 145K.

Image bcc07-3.jpg is the third Batcat Crew 7 Photo. Image provided by Grover Wilson, Co-Pilot on this crew. Here is a list of the third crew 7 names. Crew image about 173K, Added 05/06/07.

Image bcc08-1.jpg is the first Batcat Crew 8 Photo. Image provided by John Rohland, flight engineer. These are the names now available for the first crew 8, with names updated by Jim Bishop, and Richard Kawana. Please contact me if you can help with additional names. Crew image about 65K, added 03/01/08, with names updated, last updated 03/04/22.

Image bcc08-2b.jpg is another image of the second Batcat Crew 8 Photo, taken in March 1969. Image provided by crew member Allan Donahue. Here is an image of the back side of image bcc08-2b.jpg with some names. Here in text form are the names now available for the second crew 8 "b" photo. I received the April 69 photo below first, so this photo has the letter "b" in the name, it is listed first because of the date taken. Please contact me if you can help with additional names. Greg Moore and Bill Borror have added additional names. "b" photo about 107K, back side of "b" about 98K. Added 6/13/04, names last updated 09/24/08.

Here is a casual image of the second crew 8. Known names are shown in the image. Not sure if this fits with the bcc08-2, or bcc08-2b image. My thanks to crew member John Putnam for sending the image, and adding the known names. If you can add more names please contact John Putnam. Color, added added 03/09/08.

Image bcc08-2.jpg is the second Batcat Crew 8 Photo, taken in April 1969. Image provided by Jim Bertram, aircraft commander. These are the names now available for the second crew 8. Please contact me if you can help with additional names. Added 9/02/02, updated 02/26/09.

Image bcc08-3.jpg is the third Batcat Crew 8 Photo, taken in December 1969. Image provided by Frank Ventimiglia, RMT. These are the names now available for the third crew 8. Please contact me if you can help with position in the image to a name. Color, about 135K, added 09/24/08.

Image bcc09-2.jpg is of the second crew number 9. Image provided by crew member Edward Penny. Known seccond crew 9 Names here. Crew photo taken in the second half of 1969. Added 05/02/02, updated 03/16/08, about 437K.

Image bcc09-3.jpg is of the third crew number 9. Image provided by crew member Ray Sestak. Known third crew 9 names here. If you can help provide additional crew names please contact me. Ray is the second from the left standing. Crew photo taken February 9, 1970. John Stephens provided the name of his father, Bill Stephens, updated 04/22/04. Further update 08/09/13 from Jessica Lueras, grand daughter of Captain Thomas Etienne. More names updated by crew member Lynn Gates 08/27/17. Added 8/27/99, Last Updated 08/27/17, color, about 211K.

Image bcc10-1.jpg is of the first crew 10. Crew member James Eaton sent me a second image of the first crew 10, check bcc10-1a.jpg is similar but a slightly different angle, and provided more crew 10 names. Here is an updated list of the first crew 10 names. Image provided by crew member Rick Wehlan. Additional name by John R. Martindale. Added 04/28/03, updated 11/05/17, about 80K and 96K. NEW UPDATE - David Dotson a crewmember of the original crew 10, sent me this image of the first crew 10 - bcc10-1b.jpg, with aircraft commander Lt. Col. Graham fling, known as "Flings Farrets." Greg Stevens another member of the first crew 10 assures me that the image I have labeled bcc10-1b.jpg is the actual first crew 10. At this moment in time I thought about renaming 1b to 1 to indicate it is the first crew 10, however I have this cross referenced in multiple places and I'm afraid I'll miss changing the names some place. So for the time being anyway I'll continue to show this as bcc10-1b.jpg. Crew member names for image bcc10-1b.jpg are bcc10-1b.txt. I will work out learning precisely what the other crew 10 images are in the future. This 10b image about 81K, added 05/21/06, updated 10/29/06.

Image bcc10-2.jpg is of the second crew 10. Here is a list of the second crew 10 names. Image and names provided by crew member Brian Willemot. Image about 158K, added 07/06/17.

Image bcc10-3.jpg is of the third crew 10. Here is a list of the third crew 10 names. Image provided by crew member Bob Friedman. Names provided by Bob Friedman, Mike Yates and Harold Riegle, names last corrected 05/18/22. Image B&W, about 76K, Added 01/01/00, last updated 05/18/22. Marv Bryant sent me another thrid crew 10. This bcc10-3b.jpg was taken in late 1970 or early 1971. Here is a list of the known third crew 10-3b names. B&W, about 285K, Added 08/11/17.

Image bcc11-1.jpg is of the first crew 11. Here is a list of the first crew 11 names. Here is an image of the back of Ken Nagel's same first crew 11 photograph, bcc11-1n.jpg, showing the crew names, ranks and position. Crew image and names first provided by crew member Dale Lautenbach. Names updated 11/11/09 by Thomas Connelly, and names updated again 03/30/14 by Ken Nagel. Photo taken April 1968, image about 202K. Added 02/18/06, updated 03/30/14. Here is another image, bcc11-1kn.jpg of the first crew 11 taken May 1968 with Ken Nagel's camera using color slide film. This crew 11 color image includes a crew member who was not available for the earlier crew photo. This is a list of the first crew 11 names in the color image. Color image about 154K. Added 03/30/14.

Image bcc11-2.jpg is of the second crew 11. Names not yet available. Image provided by Juan Bazan. B&W, about 63K, Added 07/08/01. Here is a another image bcc11-2b.jpg of the second crew 11 taken April 1969, and the known second crew 11 member names for this second crew image. My thanks to Carter Shanklin Jr for the image and names. My thanks to Robert Pemberton for updated names for image bcc11-2b.jpg. B&W, about 67K, added 12/14/17, updated 01/13/21.

Image bcc12-1.jpg, first crew 12 image provided by crew member John R. Clark, via Jerry Peppenger. Here are the known first crew 12 member names. Added 05/07/09, about 206K.

Image bcc12-2.jpg, second crew 12 image provided by crew member Eugene Horecka. Photo taken in April 1969. Here are the crew member names. Added 5/30/04, names updated 6/13/04, about 145K.

Image bcc12-3.jpg is the third crew 12. This image was sent by Ken Weeks, CIM and RO. See the known Known third crew 12 Names. If you can provide the crew number, or any more information, please contact me. This was previously listed as unknown crew number 4, bccunk04.jpg. Crew number and name added by Richard Heiberg. Photo about 47K, added 05/20/11, updated 02/16/12.

Image bcc13-2.jpg, image provided by Roger Lazette. Photo is known to have been taken in late 1968 or early 1969, which makes this a second crew. Here are the crew member names. Added 11/26/01, Paul Karuntzos confirmed the crew number, updated 9/27/03, about 68K.

Image bcc13-3.jpg is of the third crew 13. Here is a list of the third crew 13 names. Image and info provided by crew member George Dearman. Added 06/11/05, about 95K.

Image bcc14-1.jpg is of the first crew 14. Here is a list of the first crew 14 names. Image and info provided by crew member Ron Degroff. Added 8/15/99, about 75K, updated 10/06/09.

Image bcc14-3.jpg is of the third crew 14. Here is a list of the third crew 14 names. Image and info provided by crew member Larry Blaylock. NOTE originally I had this crew mislabeled as 14-2. This crew was at Korat from Nov. 1969 to Nov. 1970. My thanks to Charlotte Clinger for correcting the crew number. Added 04/23/07, updated 04/15/15, about 58K.

Image bcc15-1.jpg is of the first crew 15. Here is a list of the known first crew 15 names. Image and info provided by crew member John Crowson. Added 01/24/10, updated 02/21/10, about 127K.

Image bcc15-2.jpg is of the second crew 15. Here is a list of the second crew 15 names. Here is a second image with the crew names included bcc15-2n.jpg Images and info provided by crew member Joe Boles. Added 12/15/08, images about 154K and 200K respectively.

Image bcc15-3.jpg is of the third crew 15 (1969-1970). Here is a list of the third crew 15 names. Image and info provided by crew member Joseph Slattery, originally Added 09/02/99, about 30K. Updated with higher resolution of this same crew image, and added missing name of crew names provided by crew member Larry Norris, B&W, about 169K, added 02/06/05, updated 02/11/15.

Image bcc16-1.jpg is of the first crew 16 (1967-1968). Here is a list of the known first crew 16 names. Please contact me if you can add names. Image and info provided by crew member Bob Levy. Crew member name updated 02/19/17 by Jerry Peppenger. B&W, about 261K, added 10/26/08, updated 02/19/17.

Image bcc16-2.jpg is of the second crew 16 (1968-1969). Here is a list of the second crew 16 names. Here is a higher resolution image of the second crew 16, bcc16-2b.jpg. B&W, about 478K. Please contact me if you can add missing name. Image and info provided by crew member Bob Levy, with Jim Bost providing updated names. Added 10/26/08, with names updated and high resolution image updated 03/21/12.

Image bcc26-1.jpg is of the first crew 26. Crew member Dick Napolitano provided this list of all initial first crew 26 names. Cliff Jensen provided a list of known first crew 26 names as shown in the photo. Color, about 149K, added 11/26/09, updated 11/30/09.

Image bcc26-2.jpg is of the second crew 26. Here is a view of a Crew 26 Inspection!. Here is a list of the second crew 26 names. Photos provided by Joe Gonzales. Images about 51 and 55K. Added 04/17/00, names updated by crew member Bill Schmieding, Updated 11/24/09.

Image bcc26-3.jpg is of the third crew 26 (1969-1970). Photo provided by Randy Spencer who flew 104 missions with Batcat. Help needed to identify the crew members. Known third crew 26 names. Please e-mail me if you can add additional crew names. Added 07/03/99.

Image bcc27-1.jpg is of the first crew 27 (1967-1968). Photo provided by crew member Richard Ertz. Known first crew 27 names. Jerry Peppenger updated name. B&W, about 101K. Added 06/17/08, updated 04/19/09. Dick Napolitano provided this list of first crew 27 names. Added 11/26/09. Crew names added, updated by Cliff Jensen, updated 12/15/09.

Image bcc27-2.jpg is of the second crew 27. Photo provided by Paul Hasz. Updated 08/02/08, crew member John Wright provided the remaining names. Here are all the second crew 27 names. B&W, about 102K, Added 03/19/08, updated 08/02/08.

Image bcc28-1.jpg is of the second crew 28, Here is a list of the first crew 28 names. Image and info provided by Ralph Draper Jr., son of crew member Ralph Draper. Updated 09/12/08 with information from John Barram, names updated by Richard Neal 04/29/12. About 68K, added 04/28/03, updated 04/29/12.

Image bcc28-2.jpg is of the second crew 28, Here is a list of the second crew 28 names. Image and info provided by crew member Lonnie Blankenship. Additional name to the list provided by Dennis McMahon. Spelling of names corrected by Bob Pelletier and Connor McBryde. About 366K, added 12/10/00, image updated 12/20/17.

Image bcc28-3.jpg is of the third crew 28, photo taken in the spring of 1970. Here is a list of the third crew 28 names. Image and info provided by crew member Lonnie Blankenship. About 520K on photo size, added 03/07/00, image updated 02/22/14.

Image bcc29-1.jpg is of the first crew 29. Here is a list of names of the first crew 29. This photo is a little different in that there is no EC-121R as a background, rather the flight line. My thanks to crewmember Richard Wygle for sending this image and list of names. Crew photo about 47K, added 12/10/00.

This image bcc29-1a.jpg is the more conventional view of the first crew 29. Here is a list of names of the first crew 29 in this view. My thanks to Aircraft Commander Dick Arnold for sending this image and list of names. Crew photo about 172K, added 07/05/08.

This image bcc29-1b.jpg is another photo of the first crew 29. Here is a list of the known names for this photo of the first crew 29. My thanks to Aircraft Commander Dick Arnold for sending this image and list of names. Crew photo B&W, about 201K, added 04/08/09.

Image bcc29-2.jpg is of the second crew 29. Dave Smith, who was onboard and survived the Sept. 6, 1969 Batcat loss, was part of this crew and provided the image. Dave is not shown in this crew photo because he was recovering in the hospital when the photo was taken. NOW for a really unusual crew photo, here is image crew29a.jpg in which you can see Dave Smith even though he was in the hospital recovering from crash injuriers. Added 10/28/00, about 46K. Here is a list of the known names for second crew 29. Known names supplied by Sam Russell, aircraft commander of the second crew 29. Names added 01/05/01, Dave Smith updated some names on 02/08/01, Alvin Teel added additional names 12/25/09 and 08/20/12. Tom Daly added name 11/01/20. Crew29a.jpg photo added 02/08/01. Another second crew 29, Jerry Van Boxtel, flight engineer for crew 29 from October 1968 to October 1969, sent me this bcc29-2b.jpg image. At the time this photo was taken Lt. Col. Magers was aircraft commander. bcc29-2b names. Crew29b.jpg photo added 11/19/03, names updated 02/24/08. Earl Brown, second crew 8-2b, provided the crew 29b names. I now have a third second crew bcc29-2c.jpg crew photo. Here is a list of known crew names bcc29-2c.txt. My thanks to crewmember Tom Daly for sending this third second crew 29 photo. Third second crew 29 photo B&W, about 399K, added 11/01/20.

Image bcc30-2.jpg is of the second crew 30. Here is a list of names second crew 30. My thanks to Mike Burroughs, who was not assigned to this crew, but was flying with them the day the photo was taken in January 1969. John Fielden updated crew name list on 08/31/15. Crew photo about 67K, added 09/28/02, updated 08/31/15.

At this point I don't have an image of the third crew 30, however I do have a partial list of names. Third crew 30 names provided by Churck Lavoie. Added 08/07/11.

Image bcc31-1.jpg is of the first crew 31. Image and info provided by crewmember Bob Malone. Here is a list of the names for the first crew 31 names were know as Hendley's Horsemen. Image about 43K, added 05/15/01.

Image bcc31-1b.jpg is another view of what I believe if the first crew 31. Image and info provided by Tom Forbes. Here is a list of the names for the first crew 31b names. Tom Forbes was assigned to the wing and flew with multiple crews, but I believe this is also a first crew 31 photo. Photo taken August 1968, image about 149K, added 06/13/04.

Image is the second crew 31. This image has a different naming convention, normally I would name the image bcc31-2.jpg, but because this was the crew of the "Da Nang Glider" the image name is "DNG_crew_names.jpg," the EC-121R which had all 4 engines stopped inflight with the propellers feathered. My thanks to Mason Ezzell for providing this image and crew names on the image. Mason Ezzell was the co-pilot on the "Da Nang Glider" at the time of the incident. B&W, about 363K, added 08/02/08. Crew member Robert "Brock" Estes sent me a different image of the second crew 31 bcc31-2a.jpg. This image was taken probably during Jan 1969, since Capt. Alvarez was AC in this photo, but is definitely the second crew 31. B&W, about 259K, added 05/06/15.

Image bcc32-2.jpg is of the second crew 32. Image and info provided by crew member Walt Troy. Walt's e-mail address is listed on the contact page. Image about 65K, added 08/01/00. Mike Burroughs has provided a list of the names for the second crew 32 names. Crew names added 06/01/01.

Image bcc32-3.jpg is of the third crew 32. Image provided by crew member Craig LeFevre. Craig doesn't have a list of names, except his own as shown in bcc32-3.txt. If you can provide any additional names please contact me. Crew image is about 104K, added 01/25/04. Stephen Dmytriw has added some crew names, updated 2/14/04.

Image bcc33-1.jpg is of the first crew 33. Image provided by crew member Daniel LeSage. Dan sent me a second image of the back of the photo with the crew 33 names, hopefully I transcribed them correctly. For a list of names take a look at bcc33-1.txt. Crew member Ruddy Scheithauer corrected crew names 08/14/08. Crew member William Robinson corrected crew names 12/08/11. Crew image is about 72K, added 03/05/02, updated 12/08/11.

Image bcc33-2.jpg is of the second crew 33. Image bcc33-2b.jpg is the second crew 33 in higher resolution. Here is a list of names for the second crew 33, bcc33-2.txt. Image provided by crewmember James Rogers. Crew image is B&W, about 126K, high resolution image B&W, about 463K, added 03/18/12.

Image bcc33-3.jpg is of the third crew 33. Image provided by crewmember Paul Desrosiers. Paul sent me a second image of the back of the photo with the crew 33 names and autographs. Names shown on image bcc33-3n.jpg. Here is a text listing of the bcc33-3.txt crew names. Crew image is about 48K, crew name image about 72K, added 09/24/99, updated 02/14/04.

Image bcc34-1.jpg is of the first crew 34. Image provided by crew member JJ Smith. List of first crew names, also proivded by JJ Smith. Crew photo is color, about 93K, added 1/21/01.

Image bcc34-2.jpg is of the first crew 34. Image provided by crew member George Dearman. List of Second crew 34 names, also proivded by George Dearman. Crew photo is B&W, about 118K, added 06/11/05.

Image bcc35-1.jpg is of the first crew 35. Image provided by crew member David Boyd. List of first crew 35 names. Crew photo is B&W, about 116K, added 08/02/08, names updated 10/26/08. Crew co-pilot Roy Spencer provided two additional photographs of the first crew 35. Both of these are color images, bcc35-1b.jpg, and bcc35-1c.jpg. About 41K and 59K, added 11/15/09.

Image bcc35-2.jpg is of the second crew 35. Image and known names provided by crew member Bill Cash. List of known second crew 35 names. Updated second crew 35 names updated by Paul Ray. Crew photo is B&W, about 155K, added 12/19/08, crew names updated 05/1/19.

Image bcc36-1.jpg is of the first crew 36. Here is a list of the first crew 36 names. Image and names provided by Lee McCraw, image about 197K, added 10/23/01. More names provided by crew member Mike Wright (twice), Bob Malone, and Duane Reed, son of Franklin Reed, last updated 01/25/24.

Image bcc36-2.jpg is of the second crew 36. Image provided by crew member Evan Roxburgh. List of known second crew 36 names. Mike Burroughs added names 09/24/08. It may be this was actually crew 32. If you can add more please contact me. Added 03/18/06, updated 09/24/08, crew image about 77K.

Image bcc37-1.jpg is of the first crew 37. Image provided by crew member Garold Messenger. List of known first crew 37 names. If you can add more names please contact me. Names updated by Roy Fretschl and Mike Rubin. Added 01/01/09, names updated 02/26/10, crew image about 140K. Crew member Roy Fretschl sent me a second view of the first crew 37. First crew 37, bcc37-1a.jpg, second view. List of names first crew 37 names for the second view. Second view of the first crew 37 was taken about April 1968. Added 05/22/09, crew image about 197K.

Image bcc37-3.jpg is of the third crew 37. Image provided by aircraft commander Paul Ray. List of known third crew 37 names. If you can add more please contact me. Added 04/12/00, crew image about 51K.

Image bcc38-1.jpg is of the first crew 38, at Korat from Oct. 67 to Oct. 68. Here is a list of the first crew 38 names. My thanks to Bob Harper for the image and names. Added 12/12/99, image is about 237K.

Image bcc38-2.jpg is of the second crew 38. Here is a list of the known second crew 38 names. My thanks to Joe Krussel for the image and names, and also to Bernard Stein who added names, and Earl Browne who added a name. Added 03/01/03 updated 05/20/21, image is about 154K.

Image bcc39-1.jpg is of the first crew 39. Image provided by original crew 39 member Cliff Jensen. Image Added 07/03/99, Updated 09/20/99, about 24K. Daniel C. Marquez has provided many of the known names for the first crew 39 names. Jim Satterwhite, Daniel Marquez and Chuck Butt provided additional name and position detail. Names added 11/26/01, last updated 11/01/22.

Image bcc39-2.jpg is of the second crew 39. Image provided by crew 39 member Churck Butt via Cliff Jensen. Here are the known names of the second crew 39. Names updated by Cliff Jensen and Chuck Butt 11/07/09. All members of the second crew 39 who flew the April 25, 1969 Batcat 21 mission (some second crew 39 members shown in the photo were not on the flight due to illness, leave, etc.) were killed with the loss. Names updated 11/24/11. Added 10/29/09, updated 11/24/11, about 165K.

Image bcc40-1.jpg is of the first crew 40, provided by crew member Hank Smith. Here are the known names of the first crew 40. First crew 40 names corrections by Dan McKenzie, updated April 13, 2005. First crew 40 names corrections by Bob Parmeter, updated 02/12/07. First crew 40 names additions by Hank Smith, updated 12/15/09. Image Added 03/21/04, crew names last updated 12/15/09, image about 97K.

Image bcc40-2.jpg is of the second crew 40. Photo taken January 1969. Here is a list of the second crew 40 names. Image from crew member Rick Broyer, names from crew member Bruce Gunderson via Rick Broyer. Added 08/06/03, updated 11/11/03, image about 80K. NOTE this is the crew which was flying on September 6, 1969 when the airplane landed short of the runway at Korat. There were 4 fatalities from the crew, along with 4 Thai National fatalities.

Image bcc41-1.jpg is of the first crew 41. Photo taken during 1968. Here is a list of first crew 41 names. Image and names from crewmember Larry Wheeler. Added 12/15/09, image about 122K.

Image bcc41-1b.jpg is of another first crew 41. Here is a list of this other first crew 41 names. Image from crew member James H. "Robbie" Robinson. Names from crew member Al "Chip" Pudims. Added 12/21/09, image about 172K. Additional names, and confirmation this was the first crew 41, arriving in November 1967, from Bill Person, added 12/30/09. Added names provided by Ken Lowe, 02/06/10.

Image bcc41-2.jpg is of the second crew 41. Photo taken January 3, 1969. Here is a list of second crew 41 names. Image and names from crew member webmaster Larry Westin. Added 07/03/99, image about 52K. Corrected spelling of names 09/28/02. Added color image bcc41-2u.jpg of the second crew 41. I happened to have my camera with me when the crew photo was taken, and asked the USAF photographer to take a photograph with my camera, which he did. This is the result. Color, about 219K, Added 12/15/09.

Image bcc42-2.jpg is of the second crew 42. Here is a list of second crew 42 names. Image and name from crew member James (Jim) Humphrey. Added 12/04/02, image about 72K. Joe Marino has provided a list of the second crew 42, of Additional crew 42 names including some crew members who missed being in the photograph. Here is a second bcc42-2b.jpg image of higher resolution. Here is a list of the crew member names bcc42-2b_names.jpg written at the time. My thanks to Hthaiwon Layne daughter of crew member Dave Layne for sending me the high resolution crew image and the image of the written names. The names image provided more complete names (first name and middle initial) on the "Additional crew 42 names" above. High resolution crew image an names image are B&W, about 663K and 854K respectively. Added 11/13/20.

Batcat fatalities at Korat	Individual Photographs
Otis Training, Party Suits and the Last 554th flight	Korat Aircrews numbers 01 through 09
Korat Aircrew numbers 10 through 19	Korat Aircrew numbers 20 through 29
Korat Aircrew numbers 30 throught 39	Korat Aircrew numbers 40 throught 42