Batcat
The United States Air Force
553rd Reconnaissance Wing
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base


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In Remembrance of those Batcats
For Whom The Angels Have Called
May you All Rest in Peace and
know you are in our Thoughts and Prayers

Batcat 21

This area contains the names of our Batcat friends and colleagues who have passed away after returning from Korat. Remembrance Area added 07/01/09, Last updated 02/29/24.


* * * WEBMASTER NOW BACK ONLINE * * *

After a difficult year with health problems, my health has improved enough to resume updates to this page - Larry Westin, webmaster. Email me at westin@westin553.net - Batcat Info Update with your thoughts and comments, I may be slow in responding. Last Updated 01/16/24


Memorial YouTube video honoring the 25 Batcat Fatalities. Twenty five veterans assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, at Korat RTAFB died, including 22 fatalities from the two EC-121R aircraft crashes, with 3 other fatalities who died from various reasons. This Youtube video was created by Mason Ezzell, who was assigned to the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing as an EC-121R pilot. Embeded Youtube video added 06/14/21.

The primary objective of this page is to let others know when a Batcat has died. The losses at Korat are listed in other places on the Batcat homepage, but so as to not forget, those who died while at Korat are shown here too. Recent deaths are shown here as I become aware of their passing. If you have additional names, corrections, or other information please contact Larry Westin via email at: westin@westin553.net.

Those who died while at Korat

Check here for a List of the 25 Batcats who lost their life while at Korat. Three Batcats died from non operational incidents. Non operational casualties are NOT engraved on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The 22 Batcats who were killed on operational missions have their names engraved on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, Washington, D.C. Here is a view of the Vietnam Memorial Wall section for the 18 Killed on the April 25, 1969 loss, Vietnam Memorial Wall section 26W, and in a separate area of the Vietnam Memorial Wall for the 4 Killed on the September 6, 1969 loss, Vietnam Memorial Wall section 18W. Last updated 07/01/21.

The 22 Batcats killed on operational missions are recognized at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, on the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Plaque in the Museum Memorial Park. Updated 10/18/09.

Those who died after
returning from Korat

These are Batcats I am aware of who have passed away after returning from Korat. Full unit and date of death is shown when known. Please use the email contact at the top of this page to correct information or add names to this area.

To locate a particular individual you have 3 options. 1 - Scroll down through this page. 2 - Search this page by pressing CTL+F, enter the person's last name data and press enter. 3 - Alternately you can click on the first letter of the person's last name.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z


Individuals Last name begins with letter "A"

David Mark Abernathy, 553rd RW, passed away January 27, 2018

Donald Adams, 554th RS, passed away March 1, 2012

Lyle Ahner, 553rd RS, passed away December 16, 2000

Vernie Andricks, 553rd FMS, passed away February 15, 2012

Rudolph Louis August, 553rd RS, passed away 2004

Jake Awalt, 553rd EMS, passed away March 28, 2016

Individuals Last name begins with letter "B"

Michael Bach, 553rd RW, passed away April 27, 1994

Dick Baker, 554th RS, passed away May 8, 2004

John L. Banner, 553rd RW, passed away January 22, 2013

Jim Barcus, 553rd OMS, passed away January 26, 2005

John Barram, 553rd RW, passed away January 2013

James Bartholomew, 554th RS, passed away Feburary 2004

Dewitt Barwick, 553rd RS, passed away unknown date

Robert O. Beaulieu, 554th RS, passed away August 18, 2000

John Begandy, 553rd RS, passed away December 27, 2013

Charles "Chuck" H. Bell, 553rd RS, passed away unkown date

William David Bennett, 553rd RS, passed away October 11, 1971

Robert Benoit, 553rd RW, passed away October 28, 2019

Russell Bergen, 553rd RW, passed away 2008

James D. Bertram, 553rd RS, passed away February 8, 2022

Ernest Sherman Bins, 554th RS, passed away May 13, 2018

Charlie L. Bishop, 553rd RW, passed away May 9, 2023

Larry D. Blaylock, 553rd RS, passed away 2010

William Thomas "Tom" Bostock, 554th RS, passed away April 1, 2022

Richard "Dick" Boston, 553rd FMS, passed away May 2016

James W. Bourdeau, 554th RS, passed away Feburary 2009

Gerald "Jerry" C. Bowen, 553rd RW, passed away December 6, 2021

Earle Boyd, 553rd RS, passed away unknown date

Warren Kenneth Breedlove Sr., 554th RS, passed away 1981

Allan Duane Brooks, 554th RS, passed away October 28, 2016

David Brown Sr., 553rd RS, passed away August 21, 2009

Charles Leroy Buechele, 554th RS, passed away March 8, 2010

Rollin Bullinger, 553rd RS, passed away November 5, 1977

Individuals Last name begins with letter "C"

Buell Carruthers, 553rd RS, passed away August 5, 2019

Denver "Denny" Earl Carter, 553rd RW, passed away January 22, 2012

Richard Eugene "Dick" Chamberlain, 554th RS, passed away January 1, 2015

Blaine Chapman, 554th RS, passed away June 4, 2008

Delano "Jay" Cheely, 553rd FMS, passed away April 4, 2013

Donald "Chris" Christensen, 554th RS, passed away May 21, 1997

Willie J. Christian, 554th RS, passed away March 12, 2011

John R. Clark, 553rd RS, passed away February 2, 2019

William "Bill" Ralph Clayton Jr., 553rd OMS, passed away October 9, 2016

Bennie Joe Clenny, 554th RS, passed away May 2, 2008

Richard K. Collins, 553rd RS, passed away February 28, 2024

Bill Cody, 553rd RW, passed away April 2002

Dick Cole, 554th RS, passed away unknown date

Bradley A. Cork, 553rd FMS, passed away February 28, 2013

Doug Cousineau, 553rd FMS, passed away January 13, 2014

LeRoy "Roy" Crain, 554th RS, passed away July 25, 2017

Sharpless "Steve" Crowe III, 554th RS, passed away May 24, 2011

John Douglas Crowson, 553rd RS, passed away August 8, 2019

Larry Cummings, 553rd RW Detachment 1, passed away 200?

Leonard Cunningham, 553rd OMS, passed away unknown date

Richard Custer, 553rd RW, passed away April 3, 2003

Individuals Last name begins with letter "D"

Robert R. Dailey, 553rd RS, passed away August 10, 1978

Dave DeGregorio, 554th RS, passed away March 14, 2021

Ron DeGroff, 553rd RS, passed away September 28, 2016

Richard "Dick" Francis Dermody, 554th RS, passed away August 15, 2016

Ray L. Dickey, 553rd RS, passed away November 4, 2018

Ricky Dietsch, 553rd OMS, passed away March 14, 2012

Ron Donley, 553rd FMS, passed away January 23, 2011

Robert "Bob" W. Dougherty, 553rd RS, passed away September 21, 2013

Ralph E. Draper, 554th RS, passed away February 6, 2001

Robert Duffy, 553rd FMS, passed away October 2014

Dave Dungan, 553rd RS, passed away unknown date

Raymond "Ray" Otis Dyal, 553rd OMS, passed away 06/02/2022

Individuals Last name begins with letter "E"

Ford Eastman, 554th RS, passed away 1995

James L. Edwards, 554th RS, passed away January 8, 2008

Donald E. Ewing, 553rd RW, passed away January 4, 1995

Individuals Last name begins with letter "F"

Jeffrey S. Feather, 554th RS, passed away October 26, 2018

Robert E. Fiebig, 554th RS, passed away May 2009

Jim Fitch, 553rd RS, passed away April 26, 2020

Graham J. "Jack" Fling, 553rd RS, passed away November 29, 2012

Bernard I. Flory, 554th RS, passed away April 30, 2017

David H. Fogle, 553rd RS, passed away April 23, 2017

Thomas R. Forbes, 553rd RW, passed away June 13, 2013

Billy J. Fountain, 553rd EMS, passed away 2007

Charles Worthington "Duke" Fowler II, 554th RS, passed away May 15, 2015

Eston A. "Rip" Fox, 554th RS, passed away October 1, 1990

William Taft "W.T." French Jr., 553rd RS, passed away September 25, 2019

Monty Freshwater, 553rd RS, passed away August 21, 2019

LeRoy T. "Roy" Fretschl, 554th RS, passed away February 24, 2015

Bob Friedman, 553rd RS, passed away July 12, 2019

David M. Fry, 554th RS, passed away January 27, 2016

Fredric Ames Fullington,, 553rd RS, passed away September 26, 2016

Bartholomew "Bart" Fundaro, 553rd FMS, passed away February 16, 2007

Individuals Last name begins with letter "G"

Thomas Joseph Gamm, 553rd RS, passed away August 31, 1988

Jowh Gavin Jr., 553rd FMS, passed away April 15, 2022

Cecil "Pappy" Gilpin, 554th RS, passed away unknown date

Walter M. Given III, 553rd RS, passed away 2000

Leonard A. "Lenny" Gladue, 554th RS, passed away 1995

James Brown Golden Jr., 554th RS, passed away July 10, 2021

John C. Gover, 553rd RW, passed away February 17, 2017

Lou Green, 554th RS, passed away 2003

Gerald C. Grotz, 553rd RS, passed away July 14, 1998

Paul Joseph Gruber, 553rd RW, passed away October 30, 2015

Elton "Gill" Guillory, 554th RS, passed away December 15, 2020

Burt Gunn, 553rd RS, passed away December 6, 2020

Chester "Chet" Gwardyak, 554th RS, passed away December 10, 2019

Individuals Last name begins with letter "H"

Billy J. Hall, 553rd RS, passed away about 2000

Jack C. Halligan, 553rd FMS, passed away March 25, 2020

James F. "Jim" Harrison Jr., 553rd RS, passed away August 30, 2016

John Harsane, 553rd FMS, passed away unknown date

Bobby Joe Hart, 554th RS, passed away June 6, 2012

Thomas F. Hart, 553rd RW, passed away May 10, 1990

Andrus "Andy" Hebert, 553rd RS, passed away July 5, 2009

Arch Heckler, 554th RS, passed away April 27, 2009

Robert H. "Bob" Helfrich, 553rd RS, passed away March 31, 2015

George Hendley, 554th RS, passed away March 5, 2021

Floyd W. Hickey, 553rd RS, passed away May 14, 1998

Anthony G. Hilbert, 553rd RS, passed away July 30, 2009

Dennis "Denny" Hill, 554th RS, passed away about 1976

William H. "Bill" Holbrook Jr., 553rd EMS, passed away March 21, 2022

William R. "Holly" Hollingsworth, 553rd RS, passed away January 8, 1994

Charles "Charlie" Hollis, 554th RS, passed away February 6, 2015

Walter C. Holobaugh, 553rd RS, passed away September 12, 2002

Thurman "Tom" Hopkins, 553rd RS, passed away March 11, 2018

Eugene "Gene" Horecka, 553rd RS, passed away 2011

Lee Hagan Hundley, 553rd EMS, passed away December 16, 2011

Individuals Last name begins with letter "I"

Individuals Last name begins with letter "J"

Jack January, 553rd RW, passed away about 2006

David W. Jessen, 553rd RS, passed away November 15, 2017

Harold Gene Jobe, 553rd FMS, passed away September 22, 2015

William Ernest Johns Sr., 553rd EMS, passed away November 21, 2009

Richard Johnson, 553rd RW, passed away February 7, 2018

Individuals Last name begins with letter "K"

Edward kaczmarek, 554th RS, passed away December 29, 2020

Don Keefe, 553rd RS, passed away 2008

Oscar W. Kendall the third, 553rd RS, passed away 2011

Robert C. Keppel, 553rd RW, passed away 1993

Richard F. Knobloch, 553rd RS, passed away May 30, 2007

Kenneth R. Krueger, 553rd OMS, passed away April 10, 2011

Frank Kubik, 553rd RS, passed away December 26, 1996

Chester "Chet" J. Kuzma, 553rd Intelligence, passed away October 27, 2016

Individuals Last name begins with letter "L"

John D. LaBonte Sr., 553rd FMS, passed away December 11, 2011

John Larrabee, 554th RS, passed away about 1990

Charles Larrison, 553rd EMS, passed away April 27, 1998

C. D. "Dave" Layne, 554th RS, passed away December 30, 2017

Anton "Tony" Letang, 553rd RS, passed away November 5, 2002

John Walter Linaburg, 553rd AMS, passed away March 9, 2011

Russel Linn, 553rd RS, passed away January 12, 2013

Licious T. Lunsford, 554th RS, passed away 1993

Individuals Last name begins with letter "M"

Bob MacFarland, 554th RS, passed away Feburary 10, 2018

Lee "Leo" J. Magers, 553rd RS, passed away November 27, 2010

Bob Malone, 554th RS, passed away March 25, 2021

Ray Manderville, 553rd OMS, passed away unknown date

Mike Mannheimer, 553rd RW, passed away 2020

Dean B. Maples, 553rd EMS, passed away July 26, 2007

John Mark, 553rd RS, passed away September 12, 2008

William F. "Bill" Maroon, 553rd RS, passed away September 23, 2016

Daniel C. Marquez, 554th RS, passed away August 13, 2011

John R. Martindale, 554th RS, passed away 2019

Richard "Dick" Massicotte, 553rd OMS, passed away November 2013

Pete "Pietro A." Mazzio, 553rd RW, passed away January 23, 2006

Michael Thomas McAvoy, 553rd RW, passed away 2004

Robert C. McBryde, 553rd RS, passed away June 21, 2014

William F. "Bill" McClelland, 553rd RS, passed away November 26, 2006

Richard Dean McCreary, 553rd RW, passed away December 11, 2016

Jim McCune, 554th RS, passed away December 19, 2012

Marvis McDow, 553rd EMS, passed away November 9, 2011

Brian "Shakey" Mckay, 554th RS, passed away June 8, 2011

Charley Meginnes, 553rd RS, passed away September 2001

Rudolf R C "Rudy" Misseijer, 554th RS, passed away May 1, 2016

Thomas D. Moffatt, 554th RS, passed away August 21, 1973

Pasquale Robert "Bob" Moretti, 554th RS, passed away June 22, 2005

Benjamin "Biff" Morgan, 554th RS, passed away July 6, 2000

Philip Morris, 553rd FMS, passed away December 22, 2018

Individuals Last name begins with letter "N"

Jack Nevin Sr., 553rd RS, passed away March 15, 2013

Cyliss Newsome, 554th RS, passed away August 2014

John Nienstedt, 553rd RS, passed away March 13, 2011

Russ Niewold, 553rd RS, passed away December 16, 2013

Ronald W. Noyes, 553rd RW, passed away November 9, 2013

Individuals Last name begins with letter "O"

Kent O'Brien, 553rd RS, passed away 1970

Warren E. "Obie" O'Byrne, 553rd RS, passed away 1983

David R. Oliver, 553rd Headquarters, passed away May 6, 2017

Frank David Ortman, 554th RS, passed away January 16, 1987

Michael "Mike" James Gordon Osborne, 554th RS, passed away March 5, 2012

Ted Ostendorf, 553rd RW, passed away July 26, 2002

Individuals Last name begins with letter "P"

Ed Pacheco, 553rd FMS, passed away August 9, 2008

Walter Paris, 553rd RS, passed away July 27, 2003

Ralph V. Parks, 554th RS, passed away May 19, 2004

Gerald H. "Jerry" Parshall, 554th RS, passed away May 5, 2014

Richard "Dick" Pasqualetti, 553rd EMS, passed away August 25, 2011

Donald L. Payton, 553rd RW, passed away February 12, 2010

Ed Penny, 553rd RS, passed away April 26, 2005

Bill J. Person, 553rd RW, passed away November 27, 2017

Dennis "Denny" Phillips, 554th RS, passed away February 9, 2022

Individuals Last name begins with letter "Q"

Individuals Last name begins with letter "R"

Paul R. Redd, 553rd FMS, passed away March 30, 2015

Franklin Reed, 554th RS, passed away September 30, 2011

Lloyd Reeder, 553rd RW, passed away September 6, 2006

Samuel Reid, 553rd RS, passed away June 9, 2020

Malcolm Rice, 554th RS, passed away November 19, 2016

Condrado "Conrad" Rico, 553rd RS, passed away September 2007

Michael "Mike" Riggs, 553rd RS, passed away May 20, 2005

George D. Ringhoffer, 554th RS, passed away October 7, 1974

Ralph W. Roberts, 553rd RW, passed away October 29, 2016

James "Robbie" Robinson, 554th RS, passed away July 10, 2011

Darrel Rook, 553rd RS, passed away November 9, 2008

Harry "Skip" H. Rumble III, 553rd EMS, passed away May 30, 2010

Individuals Last name begins with letter "S"

Thomas Edward Sandelin, 553rd RW, passed away 1987

Alton "Sandy" Sandifer, 553rd EMS, passed away unknown date

Joe Santana, 553rd RS, passed away November 19, 2010

Warren Savignano, 553rd RW, passed away 2014

Rudy Scheithauer, 554th RS, passed away September 5, 2010

Carter Shanklin Jr., 553rd RS, passed away March 21, 2013

David L. Shipton, 553rd RS, passed away April 8, 2008

Dan Shull, 553rd RS, passed away July 7, 2021

Jack Sikora, 554th RS, passed away October 25, 2018

Charles D. Silverstein, 553rd FMS, passed away October 9, 2015

James D. "Jim" Skaggs, 553rd RS, passed away November 28, 2013

Robert "Bob" Slane, 553rd RW, passed away March 16, 2011

Edwin Smith, 553rd OMS, passed away February 6, 2019

Jerry J. "JJ" Smith, 554th RS, passed away June 23, 2009

Milton L. Smith, 553rd EMS, passed away April 27, 1986

Bob Snellgrove, 553rd RS, passed away late 1980's

Glenn M. Sommers Sr., 553rd RS, passed away August 9, 1991

Claude W. Sparks, 553rd RS, passed away November 11, 2014

Randy Spencer, 553rd RS, passed away November 19, 2008

Roy J. Spencer, 554th RS, passed away November 6, 2022

Ralph E. Spraker, 554h RS, passed away December 30, 2020

Daniel Stafford, 553rd FMS, passed away November 30, 2016

Jim Steinfeld, 553rd RW, passed away March 27, 2013

Stephen "Stew" Stewart, 553rd RW, passed away August 16, 2004

Robert E. Stirnitzke, 553rd RS, passed away March 29, 2023

Robert Stockford, 553rd RS, passed away October 19, 2013

Mike Sullivan, 554th RS, passed away September 19, 2017

Individuals Last name begins with letter "T"

Jack Thompson, 553rd RW, passed away January 1976

Henry "Harry" Timmermans, 553rd RW, passed away March 13, 1989

Francis "Frank" Tomanio, 554th RS, passed away unknown date

Ronald "Ron" Clay Trent, 553rd OMS, passed away March 14, 2019

Vinny Trovato, 553rd FMS, passed away December 23, 2008

Kenneth M. Tyler, 554th RS, passed away February 2002

Individuals Last name begins with letter "U"

Individuals Last name begins with letter "V"

Charles Van Allman, 554th RS, passed away July 7, 2011

Thomas Vansickle, 553rd OMS, passed away 2002

Raymond J. "Jim" Vaterlaus, 554th RS, passed away October 27, 2013

Individuals Last name begins with letter "W"

Bobby D. Wagnon, 554th RS, passed away 2009

James Wakefield, 553rd RW, passed away January 11, 2005

Chester "Chet" Wallack, 554th RS, passed away January 21, 2015

Richard Weiner, 554th RS, passed away November 30, 2015

Gus Weiser, 553rd RW, passed away August 15, 2013

James Franklin "Frank" Weatherspoon, 553rd RS, passed away May 8, 2019

Mike White, 553rd RW, passed away 1983

Ray "Willy" Wilcox, 554th RS, passed away October 23, 2009

Robert C. Winegar, 554th RS, passed away April 4, 2014

Jack Winling, 554th RS, passed away unknown date

Chet Worthen, 553rd RW, passed away November 2007

Individuals Last name begins with letter "X"

Individuals Last name begins with letter "Y"

Individuals Last name begins with letter "Z"



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