553rd Reconnaissance Wing

Korat RTAFB, Thailand

Batcats

The 553rd Reconnaissance wing insignia was designed by the world

famous cartoonist, Mr. Milton Caniff. Mr. Caniff is best known

for his comic strip, "Steve Canyon." The following is Mr.

Caniff's explanation of the insignia he designed:

"The device shows an aggressive jungle cat-like creature, facing

forward, airborne on gigantic bat wings. The entire area of the

beast is colored midnight blue, but the eyes glow white against

the nocturnal shading. The mouth is red.

The right front paw of the animal appears to be touching a

representational design of the top of a globe marked with

latitudinal and longitudinal lines.

In the upper left corner of the yellow field are shown jagged

lines in the configuration of the ancient navigator's lines of

position for a star "fix." The point of impact is indicated by a

white circle within which is the ancient sign for sulphur. This

is drawn in bright red.

The white eyes of the BAT CAT make clear the reconnaissance

mission of the organization, while the deep blue signifies the

secrecy surrounding the effort. The red mouth highlights the

heat of the striking power implicit in the BAT CAT. The midnight

blue and the golden yellow of the field further emphasize the day

and night capability of the Wing, whether flying blind or not.

The tiger-like cat creature denotes the militant attitude of the

personnel involved in the assigned task. The bat wings signify

the sensitivity of the classified equipment issued to the 553rd

and its application. The representation of the globe denotes the

worldwide potential of the Wing and its mission. The sulphur

sign at point of the "fix" dramatizes the enormity of the power

which can be delivered to such a place as a result of the skill

of the Wing."

The words "Cavete Cattam" translated from Latin means "Beware of

the Cat."