A Short History of the 553 Reconnaissance Wing Larry Westin - June 7, 1999 Updated Rev. Q - 04/21/14. In the Beginning

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1 A Short History of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing Larry Westin - June 7, 1999 Updated Rev. Q - 04/21/14 Information about Batcat operations has been declassified (March 1997). All information here has previously been published in unclassified periodicals and is available to e general public. I purchased copies of all e 553 Reconnaissance Wing official history information on microfilm, 3 rolls of 16mm microfilm (not micro fiche), from e Air Force Historical Research Agency. After using e microfilm to provide data for e Batcats book, I donated e microfilm to The Vietnam Center & Archive at Texas Tech University. In e Beginning Homepage visitor Bill Person provides some information about e development of Batcat. Batcat was e result of a ink tank concept named College Nine, because of e 9 college professors who ought it up. Once in application, it was dubbed Practice Nine. The concept would be called by several code names during its life, but e overall operation is best know as Igloo White. Chris Jeppeson, who had an excellent Homepage covering Igloo White, refers to a August 1966 study group known as e Jason Group. Igloo White comprised 3 major elements, e 553 Reconnaissance Wing at Korat RTAFB, e Infiltration Center at Nakhon Phanom, known as Task Force Alpha, and e sensor delivery system, first initially operated by e Navy wi e code named Dual Blade, also at Nakhon Phanom. Later e USAF assumed e task of air delivery of e sensors. The Igloo White concept which emerged from e ink tank discussions was to create an Electronic Fence at would inteict and reduce e flow of supplies from Nor Vietnam down e Ho Chi Minh Trail to e Viet Cong insurgents in Sou Vietnam. Primary objective was to create an anti-vehicle barrier. If e vehicles could be stopped, en a major quantity of enemy supplies would be halted. The project was assigned a very high priority by e Department of Defense. Later it became known as "MacNamarra's Electronic Fence" after en Secretary of Defense Robert MacNamarra, who was a primary proponent of is form of electronic warfare. Defense Secretary Robert MacNamarra, who strongly supported e electronic fence concept, now code named "Practice Nine," wrote a memo on January 6, 1967 to President Johnson recommending a go ahead wi e concept. Next day, January 7, 1967, e Deputy Secretary of Defense sent anoer memo to President Johnson also recommending e project. During a National Security meeting at e White House on January 13, 1967, President Johnson approved e Practice Nine project, and issued National Security Action Memorandum 358 which gave "Highest National Priority" category to "Project PRACTICE NINE." This document effectively gave bir to Batcat and e oer segments of what would most frequently be identified as Igloo White. Often individuals have ed me asking how Batcat got what it needed so quickly. When e President assigns highest national priority to a project, normal bureaucratic road blocks disappear, projects get accomplished.

2 Practice Nine would eventually use several different code names. Biggest reason for code name changes was to maintain secrecy. Even wi e declassified documents in hand, is auor had difficulty determining e sequence of code name changes. To avoid confusion is history will refer to e project going forwa as Igloo White. While enemy vehicle traffic was e primary target, it was also intended to detect individuals walking down e Ho Chi Minh Trail. To assist wi detection of individuals, small bomblets were dropped along e trail. When someone stepped on a bomblet it would detonate, and is small explosion was picked up by e sensors. Planning for Igloo White comprised e USAF, Navy and Army. The electronic fence concept envisioned using Navy sonobouys delivered along e Ho Chi Minh Trail by air, wi special receivers in e 553 Reconnaissance Wing EC-121R aircraft to pick up e signals. The EC- 121R would, when in range, automatically relay e signals picked up to e Infiltration Center. Several target areas along e Ho Chi Minh Trail were outside of e range of e relay equipment; during out of range flights e signals were processed manually by e crew on boa e EC-121R, en radioed via High Frequency Single Side Band radio directly to 7 AF HQ in Saigon. Modifying Navy WV-2 and WV-3 aircraft to USAF EC-121R Previous USAF and Navy use of e Lockheed C-121 and EC-121 Super Constellation series aircraft fell into 1 of 2 roles, as a transport aircraft (C-121), or as an airborne early warning aircraft (EC-121D or H). The Batcat EC-121R mission was quite different, e electronic signals picked up by e EC-121R s were used to locate ground based enemy vehicles and/or personnel. Because of is unique mission e EC-121R s were camouflaged. No oer US military (E)C- 121's wore camouflage paint (The C-69 Constellation prototype was camouflaged during early flight tests during WWII). Col. Ted Ostendorf, later a 553 Wing Commander, was assigned to Air Logistics Command in Sacramento, California, and e officer responsible for e conversion of Navy EC-121's to R standa. Conversion of e Navy EC-121's to R configuration began in e latter part of These Navy EC-121's had been stored at Davis-Monan AFB, Arizona, for more en two years when selected for conversion to R standa. In addition to e long storage period, e Navy EC- 121's did not have modifications to e power recovery turbines which e USAF considered essential to safety. After competitive bidding, Lockheed Aircraft Services at Ontario, California, was awaed a contract to make e modifications to e Navy airplanes. Because of e long period in storage it was decided to fly e airplanes from Arizona to Ontario, California wi e landing gear kept extended in e down position. Lockheed Air Services completed e conversions by late Bill Person provides some more information about e conversion. New AC generators were installed to accommodate e extra power needed for e 40 ARR-52s and an ARC-109 wi a

3 paddle setting KY encryption system. EWO gear also drew on e power as did e S-band relay system. EC-121R aircraft were modified to two standas. Twenty of e aircraft were equipped wi passive Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) ECM only. The oer ten EC-121R s had RHAW plus active jamming capability as well as expanded range receiving capability. Those aircraft equipped wi active jamming ECM were referred to in wing documentation as ose wi special equipment. Some orbits required ey be flown only by aircraft wi special equipment. Activating e 553 Reconnaissance Wing Activation of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing occurred on February 9, 1967, as part of Air Defense Command. The 553 Reconnaissance Wing, and its suboinate units, were organized at Otis AFB, Massachusetts on February 25, 1967, where it became part of First Air Force, Air Defense Command. Bill Person provides more information. Alough it was suboinate to 1st AF, Maj. Gen. Goon H. Austin was in e chain as Commander of e 26 Air Division and Eastern NORAD/CONAD Region at Stewart AFB, New York. I was e SSO and received a lot of highly classified messages for him on e project. That was how I knew and got in on e ground floor. The 553 Reconnaissance Wing comprised 5 squadrons. Maintenance squadrons included e 553 Electronic Maintenance Squadron (later renamed e Avionics Maintenance Squadron), e 553 Field Maintenance Squadron and e 553 Organizational Maintenance Squadron, plus headquarters squadron. The flying squadrons were e 553 Reconnaissance Squadron and e 554 Reconnaissance Squadron. Bo e 553 and 554 Reconnaissance Squadrons were activated at e same time, however bo squadrons are listed as non operational from February 25 to February 28, First Wing commander was Colonel Gus Weiser, who assumed command on March 1, Col. Weiser s Deputy was Col. Jewel. Lt. Col. George Costi was e Operations officer. Lt Col. Arnold Stamler was Commander of e 554. Initial cadre of personnel came from Air Defense Command, consisting mostly of personnel wi previous experience in e EC-121 aircraft. Training was accomplished at Otis AFB under e direction of First Air Force, part of Air Defense Command. The wing insignia, designed by cartoonist Milton Caniff, was approved on June 19, The Test Deployments During e work up period ree deployments were flown, two to Howa AFB, Panama Canal Zone and one to Eglin AFB, Florida. Purpose of ese TDY's was to evaluate e sensor/aircraft combination, and refine initial techniques to be used when Batcat went overseas.

4 The first TDY was code named operation "Pot Lid." Note at e aircraft used has what appears to be a U.S. Navy paint scheme, carried e wo "U.S. Air Force" on e nose, and was tail number Sending e second prototype out of e country before painting provides furer evidence at a high priority was attached to refining e system as soon as possible. Bill Person gives more information about e temporary duty deployments. It was a special test for RFI, radio frequencies interference outside e U.S. It was helpful to determine which frequencies to use on e ARR-52s. Shortly after returned from Panama, it was used at Eglin AFB, Florida for furer testing wi e sensors. Operation Dune Moon started in late May, Al Bosse, who participated in e Dune Moon operation, provided is interesting side story. We had e nose gear door and e prop spinners painted wi e Wonder bread dots. We were quartered on, I believe field four, in WWII officers quarters. These quarters only had full bas, no showers. They constructed outdoor showers for us because of e complaints. I used e batub. Couldn't get over my fear of snakes to walk outside and take a shower, who knows what a snake would bite. Near e quarters was a short runway. It was said at Jimmy Doolittle used is runway to practice his B-25 takeoffs for his raid over Tokyo. Bill Person gives is additional information about e Eglin TDY. There were Special Forces Green Berets walking e trails to activate and test e sensors for us. They wore plastic leggings because of e rattlesnakes. They caught one and had it rattle so we could hear it in e plane on e acusid. Also, button bomblets were sown on e pine tree test area which prompted a few strong wos when e army guys stepped on em. We had a big rain one day and a bunch of e bomblets were washed out into e gulf and en back on e beach. They had to close at part of e beach for a while to sweep it clean. Some stupid press release was given, which I doubt anyone believed. Operation Dune Moon was completed in late July Kerry Maxwell, who also participated in Dune Moon, ed me to say at when was flown for Dune moon, it had its Navy paint scheme replaced by e standa USAF camouflage seen on all oer Batcat EC-121R aircraft. Anoer, second TDY to Panama, and e i and last evaluation TDY, was from Aug 25, 1967 to September 2, Purpose was to participate in test and evaluation of aircraft." The aircraft used on at TDY was Wing Operational - Movement to Korat RTAFB The 553 Reconnaissance Wing was declared operationally ready in September 1967, and received its POM (Preparation for Overseas Movement) inspection from ADC. Bill Person adds is information about e POM inspection. This was when we had our Mess Dress Dining-In at Otis before deploying. Milton Caniff was at e dinner to explain his BATCAT, e red sulfur symbol, and e term CAVETTE CATTAM, which is Latin.

5 Translated into English it means Beware e Cat. Personnel of e wing s initial support team arrived at Korat on September 20, Less en a mon later, on October 13, e first seven EC-121R aircraft departed e Continental United States for Thailand. The flight was lead by Col. Weiser. First stop was McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California. From McClellan e flight proceeded to Hickam AFB, Hawaii, en to Wake Island, proceeding on to Anderson AFB, Guam, arriving at Korat RTAFB during e afternoon of October 19, The deployment of e full wing was completed in 3 mons. On October 19, 1967 e 553 Reconnaissance Wing, at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, became a unit of Pacific Air Forces under 13 Air Force. Operational control of e Wing came from detachment 1, 7 Air Force, at Udorn. Administrative control remained wi 13 Air Force out of Clark Air Base, in e Phillippines. Initial facilities at Korat were minimal. Construction to support e 553 Reconnaissance at Korat began in late August 1967 wi e headquarters building. The Headquarters building was dedicated on January 26, Living quarters were tents wi only a few permanent buildings. By e end of February 1968 all units were moved into permanent facilities. All missions were accomplished during is initial period. The 553 shared e use of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base wi e 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, which was e primary USAF unit at Korat RTAFB. Oers for ose assigned to Batcat were actually to e 388 Combat Support Group. After arrival at Korat subsequent oers were issued to transfer to e 553 Reconnaissance Wing. When e 553 first arrived e 388 flew e Republic F-105 Thunder Chief. Later e 388 made a transition to e McDonnell F-4E Phantom II. In addition e Royal Thai Air Force operated Nor American T-6 trainers based at Korat. Batcat Combat Missions Begin - Dropping Sensors Combat reconnaissance missions began on November 25, These missions normally required e aircraft to be on station for 8 hours. Including transit time to and from station, an average flight was typically about 10 ½ hours. Before BATCAT could be effective aircraft from oer bases dropped sensors along e area to be monitored. During early operations e Navy used OP-2E observation aircraft (which were modified Lockheed SP-2H Neptune sub hunter/killer aircraft). The OP-2E aircraft carried e sensors in one of two places on e aircraft. Smaller ACCOBOUY sensors were in racks inside e aircraft while e larger ADSIDS were carried on ejector racks outboa of e piston engines. It was necessary to plot accurately e position of e sensors by e drop aircraft. Accurate placing of e ADSIDS required e use of e WWII Noen Bombsight due to altitude required for e correct position on e ground of e unit. The obtaining, e training and e use of e sight is a story all by its self. Most of is was accomplished by U.S. Navy Squadron VO-67. ACCOBOUY accuracy was accomplished by "eye ball" using an IP very close to e desired

6 emplacement location. Several different types of sensors were used during e Vietnam War. One of e most common was called ADSID, Air Delivered Seismic Intrusion Detector. These sensors picked up vibrations in e ear and transmitted a signal which was picked up by e orbiting Batcat EC- 121R. Knowing e sensor location, as recoed by e drop aircraft, allowed e EC-121R crew to know where along e trail at e activation occurred. The sensors were dropped in strings of 4 to 12 sensors, sometimes more, along e trail area to be observed. As a vehicle moved it would set off one sensor, en e next in e string, etc. By plotting e sensor activations, a route and speed could be determined. On occasion e sensors were hand planted in Laos and Cambodia by Special Forces, and also sometimes dropped by USAF H-3 helicopters. Sensor variations occurred regularly. Anoer type of sensor was named ACOUSID. ACOUSID sensors transmitted an aural sound to e EC-121R which was picked up by e CIM, and recoed on reel to reel tape drives. Wi ACOUSID it was hoped to be able to identify precisely what type vehicle activated e sensor. Sensors were camouflaged wi e extended antenna also camouflaged. Life of each sensor was two weeks to a mon depending on how much e sensor transmitted. Some sensors had e capability of being put in an inhibit mode to extend battery life. Operations were flown using 25 EC-121R aircraft of e 30 aircraft converted. All aircraft were assigned to e Wing and bo flying squadrons flew e same aircraft. Three EC-121R aircraft remained at Otis AFB, MA for training, two more were assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, for ongoing sensor development. Normal crew complement was comprised of: Aircraft Commander, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer, Second Flight Engineer, Navigator, Second Navigator, Radio Operator, Second Radio Operator, Electronic Warfare Officer, Radio Maintenance Technician, Assistant Radio Maintenance Technician, Combat Information Control Information Officer, Assistant Combat Control Information Control Officer, and 4 to 5 Combat Information Monitors. Missions flown out of range of Nakhon Phanom required greater aircrew involvement. Combat Information Monitors (CIM) recoed each sensor transition and passed e information to e Combat Information Control Officer (CICO). It was e job of e CICO and ACICO to plot e sensor information. When tracks were ought to be legitimate, e information was en passed on to Saigon via High Frequency (shortwave) single sideband radio. Some orbits were flown in direct support of Army or Marine units. In ese cases tracks were radioed directly to Army or Marine units via VHF FM radio. During e time e 553 Reconnaissance Wing was activate, eleven different orbits were flown. Not all at e same time. Different orbits were flown as e ground combat situation warranted. Enlisted quarters were concrete cinder block barracks. One barracks for each squadron, each

7 accommodating 192 men. Non-Commissioned officers used hutches wi, I believe, 8 men per hutch. Change of Command and Operations On Jul 1, 1968 Col. John W. Emig relieved Col. Weiser. He remained Wing commander until Col. Timmermans arrived on July 8, On July 8, 1968, Colonel Henry Timmermans assumed command of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing, relieving Col. Emig. About is time, June 1968, e Navy relinquished to e USAF e job of dropping e air delivered sensors. During VO-67's tenure dropping e sensors, Navy squadron VO-67 lost 3 of eir OP-2E aircraft, and 20 aircrew men. The remains of one crew lost were not recovered until USAF used e F-4D along wi an RF-4C to photograph e position of e drops to ensure accuracy of sensor placement. At times CH-3 helicopters were used to make e sensor drops. During January 1969 while landing at Otis AFB, MA, an EC-121R, , returning from a training flight overran e end of e runway. The nose gear collapsed, but fortunately no serious injuries occurred. Photographs I ve seen show is airplane was used afterwas only as a source of spare parts, apparently not flown again. Testing e EC-121R Replacement begins - e QU-22 A detachment of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing provided an evaluation of e Beech YQU-22A and QU-22B aircraft at Nakhon Phanom. The YQU-22A was a derivative of e Beech Debonair (straight tail Bonanza), e Beech model 1074, intended to be operated by remote control as a drone, alough operationally ey were never flown wiout a pilot. These Beech aircraft were occasionally seen at Korat. These U-22's were unofficially referred to as Baby-Bats. The YQU-22A was underpowered and too small to properly perform e sensor relay mission. Later in 1969 and early 1970, e YQU-22A was replaced by e Beech QU-22B, Beech model 1079, which used e larger Beech model 36 Bonanza fuselage wi an upgraded engine and larger alternator. After e 553 Reconnaissance Wing was inactivated on Dec. 15, 1970, e QU-22B detachment at Naknon Phanom became e 554 squadron and continued e sensor relay job started by e EC-121R s. From January 30, 1969 rough February 28, 1969, e 553 flew out of U-Tapao in Souern Thailand. This deployment was required so e runway at Korat (Korat had only e single runway, aligned 60/240 degrees) could be repaired. The longer distances to e orbit area increased e average flight time to a little over 11 hours per mission. TDY to U-Tapao - Batcat EC-121R Incidents and Crashes Enlisted crew quarters at U-Tapao were quite primitive compared to Korat. Living quarters provided were ose built by e Japanese during World War II, at at time unused at U-Tapao.

8 I (Larry Westin) can remember e hutch I was assigned to was not far from e Air (now Security) Police station. Every shift sirens were tested by e incoming AP s. Just a little furer down e line was e SAC B-51/KC-135 maintenance engine run up area. Sleep could be difficult wi sirens or jet engines running nearby! Alough it wasn t e cleanest water I ever saw, it was nice to swim in e Gulf of Siam, e beach of which was at e sou end of U- Tapao s runway. On April 25, 1969 e 553 Wing lost its first EC-121R aircraft, All on boa, 18 crew members of BATCAT crew 39, 554 Reconnaissance Squadron, wi e call sign Batcat 21, perished in e crash. Orbits varied somewhat as ground combat operations changed. Early fights over e water off e East coast of Vietnam, just above e DMZ, were terminated after a short time. The off shore orbit (e first BLACK orbit) was unique in at e 553 Reconnaissance Wing EC-121R s provided targets directly to a U.S. Navy battleship, e USS New Jersey. This orbit had to be discontinued because of e bombing halt of Nor Vietnam by President Johnson. Technically dropping e sensors was considered e same as dropping bombs by e Johnson administration. By e middle of standa orbits were established and flown 24 hours a day. Oer orbits were operated as e situation demanded. Some were as far sou as lower Sou Vietnam (Amber), and as far nor as 60 miles from Hanoi (Rose). During June 1969 a 553 Reconnaissance EC-121R experienced an incident ought to be unique wi e Lockheed Constellation/Super Constellation aircraft. All four propellers feaered simultaneously during flight. Some anxious moments ensued when engines were restarted, en feaered again. Aircraft Commander Col. Jack January and crew was able to get e engines running and make a safe emergency landing at Da Nang, Sou Vietnam. This aircraft, EC-121R USAF serial number , would go on to be nick named e Da Nang Glider. One additional EC-121R aircraft was taken on charge at Korat to make up for e loss of e aircraft in April. Howa Cooper was on e crew which picked up is airplane a JFK International Airport, New York, where Lockheed has a maintenance facility. Arriving at JFK on May 29, 1969 to ferry e airplane to Korat, ere was a 3 to 4 hour delay when smoke filled e cockpit at engine start. Route was JFK to McClellan, Hickam, Wake Island, Clark AB, en onto Korat. Anoer incident occurred about 3.5 hours after departure from Hickam, a problem in #3 engine developed, e prop was feaered, and return made to Hickam. After a day on e ground at Hickam e problem was resolved and e trip completed successfully. Wi e January write off after e landing overrun at Otis AFB, and e transfer of one aircraft to Korat to make up for e April loss, is left only 3 EC-121R s in e U.S. Training continued at Otis AFB, wi at least one C-121G assigned for pilot/engineer training. Sensor development continued using one EC-121R at Eglin AFB. 553 EMS at Nui Ba Den Mountain - Change of Command

9 During e middle of 1969 Radio Maintenance Technicians were assigned on temporary duty to Nui Ba Den Mountain, Sou Vietnam. Nui Ba Den mountain was equipped wi electronic receivers to monitor sensors similar to ose monitored by e EC-121R s. During e night of June 18, 1969 e Viet Cong mounted a sapper attack. The Viet Cong sapper team crawled rough e Army lines to make a deliberate attack on e relay vans. In e attack e vans were severely damaged and e 553 EMS Sergeant on duty at e time, TSgt. John Linaburg, was wounded and at least two VC were killed by Army personnel responding to e attack. Sergeant Linaburg was e only 553 Reconnaissance Wing member known to receive e Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat wi e enemy. On July 1, 1969, Colonel Ted Ostendorf assumed command of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing. A personal remembrance from Larry Westin about flying wi e 553 Reconnaissance Wing - One particularly rainy night about 04:00 our aircraft, flying e Blue orbit, began picking up sensor activations around Khe Shanh. The problem was we could not determine if it was e rain or e enemy which was activating e sensors. Direct radio contact wi e Army at Khe Shanh was established, and ey were notified of our sensor activity. The Army advised immediately ey would send a patrol out to find out if ese sensor activations were enemy, or rain. At at time I was happy to be flying around in a warm dry airplane, raer an going out on patrol in enemy infiltrated territory, in e jungle, at night, in bad weaer. About is time crews were assigned to specific aircraft. However at was not necessarily e aircraft you flew in. Aircrews performed some work on eir aircraft, mostly cleaning duties, when not flying. A second EC-121R, , was lost during September Four crew members from BATCAT crew 40, 554 Reconnaissance Squadron, flying as Batcat 19, perished wi e loss of is aircraft. Four Thai nationals on e ground were also killed. Change of Command - Readying e QU-22B for Service On December 7, 1969, Colonel John Mitchell assumed command of e 553. Orbits were flown as dictated by events on e ground. Detachment 1 at Nakhom Phanom proceeded during is time to evaluate and refine operations wi e Beech QU-22B aircraft to replace e EC-121R. Automatic plotters were added to some of e EC-121R aircraft. Eventually 9 plotters were available, so ey were installed on an as needed basis for missions. During 1970 EC-121R aircraft were being flown back to Davis-Monan AFB to be scrapped. October 1970 saw e first 5 EC-121R s returned to Davis-Monan go to a local Tucson company to scrap. In later 1970 Col. Mitchell confirmed to USAF headquarters at e QU-22B was ready to fly operationally. Wi at confirmation USAF planned e end of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing. Last 553 Reconnaissance Wing Commander - Wing Deactivated

10 On December 11, 1970, just before e wing was deactivated, Colonel Robert Slane assumed command of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing. Formal deactivation of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing occurred on December 15, Reconnaissance Wing Commanders: 1 Mar 1967 to 30 June 1968 Col. Gus Weiser 1 Jul 1968 to 7 July 1968 Col. John W. Emig 8 Jul 1968 to 30 June 1969 Col. Henry L. Timmermans 1 Jul 1969 to 6 Dec 1969 Col. Ted H. Ostendorf 7 Dec 1969 to 10 Dec 1970 Col. John W. Mitchell 11 Dec 1970 to 15 Dec 1970 Col. Robert A. Slane Please note e differences shown in is history and what e Office of Air Force History has in some official publications. I list Col. Weiser as 553 Commander from Mar 67, not Oct 1967 as some USAF documentation list. Col. Weiser assumed command on March 1, 1967, he did not arrive in Soueast Asia until Oct The Office of Air Force History has in an official publications misspelled Col. Slane s name. His name is Robert Slane, not Robert Sloan. The last official history of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing was written in early 1971, after Col. Slane was reassigned. The last official history has, at some points, Col. Robert Slane incorrectly identified as Col. Robert Sloan. 553 Reconnaissance Squadron reassigned to e 388 TFW The wing was disbanded on December 15, 1970, however one squadron, e 553 Reconnaissance Squadron continued to operate as an EC-121R flying squadron of e 388 Tactical Fighter Wing. The Batcat EC-121R s flew from Korat until December At at time e last EC-121R departed for Davis-Monan AFB, Arizona. When e 553 Reconnaissance Wing deactivated, e 554 Reconnaissance Squadron number was assigned to e QU-22B aircraft at Nakhom Phanom. This unit previously flew as Detachment 1 of e 553 Reconnaissance Wing at Nakhom Phanom RTAFB. EC-121R sensor relay missions continued to be flown by e 553 Reconnaissance Squadron, now part of e 388 Tactical Fighter Wing from Korat. Some orbits were out of relay range from Task Force Alpha at Nakhom Phanom, so ey could not be flown by e QU-22B, and had to be flown by e EC-121R wi its large crew. While it was intended for e QU-22B aircraft to be flown remotely, at never occurred in practice. There was always a pilot on boa e QU-22B for operational missions.

11 553 Reconnaissance Squadron performs Ramrod ABCCC mission In addition to continuing e sensor relay mission, e Batcat EC-121R aircraft now had an additional task wi e code name Ramrod. Bill Mac MacDonald was a CICO wi e 553 Reconnaissance Wing, and continued wi e 553 Reconnaissance Squadron after e wing was deactivated. Mac provides is first hand knowledge of e Ramrod ABCCC mission now flown by e EC-121R s over Cambodia on what I call Black orbit 2 (e first black orbit which I call Black orbit 1, was flown at e noreast coastal part of Sou Vietnam): Black Orbit in 1971 was an Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) mission over Cambodia. We used e call sign Ramrod. Our Area of Responsibility was from zero to 2,000 feet and if memory serves we flew a racetrack pattern along e 40 degree radial out of Phnom Penh at 10,000 feet. The Senior Duty Officer was a rated O-5 (Lt. Col.), not assigned to e 553 Recon Squadron. I flew wi a few different SDO s who were at Korat TDY from e Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) in Saigon. A major responsibility for e SDO was to clear fire missions. We carried a very heavy map book wi annotated topographical maps of e area. We also had e Rules of Engagement, BENO Book information, e.g., ere will be no bombing of temples. I was a Duty Officer. DOs were CICOs and sat at e CICO station for is mission. We were in constant contact wi Blue Chip (call sign for e 7 AF Hq Ops in Saigon) and e Airborne Forwa Air Controllers operating in e area. At designated times before B-52 strikes, e DO was required to broadcast messages on UHF Gua Frequency for all aircraft to avoid e strike area. Two CIMs acted as Air Traffic Controllers. They cleared e US aircraft into and out of Cambodia and kept track of em rough Ops Normal reports while in country. We supported e Cambodian Army and had a Cambodian field-grade Army Officer on boa in contact wi troops on e ground at all times. If e Cambodians needed anying, we relayed his requirements to Blue Chip, but at was rare. Fragged US missions checked in and out wi us. We had e auority to divert em if and when required. We carried a frag for our Area of Operations, so we knew who to expect. Rustic FACs were assigned to one or more of several Areas of Responsibility wiin Cambodia and it was ese people at we primarily worked wi. Whenever a FAC needed air support, he called us and we relayed to Blue Chip. When e FAC called in he d give us e target and e onance he needed. The SDO would clear e target, making sure it was auorized, and we d immediately relay e request to Blue Chip. Several aircraft were on strip alert in Vietnam. When Blue Chip got e call, ey d match up e requirement to e flight wi e proper onance load, and scramble em. The flight would check in wi us crossing e boer and we d match em up wi e FAC. The FAC would direct e firing mission.

12 We also worked wi Army helicopters; ere were several in e area. The Ramrod missions were great. Since I arrived in Korat late in e program, e Batcat missions were dwindling down. I got as many Ramrod missions as I could. I was a Mustang, having been enlisted for ten years before going to OTS. Most of e CICOs were much younger an I and didn t have e experience of working side-by-side wi screaming field-grade officers. So ey were happy at I took e missions. Our finest hour occurred when a CIM hollered out at he hea an emergency beeper and at e same time a Rustic FAC called us. A US helicopter had been shot down in flames. We had no idea who it was, but at wasn t uncommon in e secret war. The FAC reported e helicopter on e ground and survivors getting out. Enemy ground forces were in e area, very close. He gave us e cooinates and went in to help. We appointed him On Scene Commander and we immediately contacted Blue Chip. I remember it well, Blue Chip, Ramrod wi Emergency Traffic. And e instantaneous response, Go. I reported e location and Blue Chip launched a Search and Recovery team, four A-1E Skyraiders (Call sign Sandy) for fire suppression and e Jolly Green rescue helicopter. The Sandy s came in first and we handed em off to e FAC. He was quite busy and was quite glad to see em. Then e Jolly Green hit e fence and checked in. He knew e location, so I told him ours to be sure we were out of his way. They took it from ere. Between e Sandy s, e original FAC and one oer FAC, e enemy did not get close to e downed helicopter. A total of six people had been aboa and all were extracted successfully. Once e SAR team left e area, we still had cleanup work. The helicopter was on e ground in enemy area and it contained classified documents and equipment. It had to be destroyed. For e next hour or so it seemed at anying flying in e AO was put onto at target. I know we put two F-4s in and a friendly Cambodian gunship got in a few licks. I know ey were many more, but I ve forgotten just who ey were. The big ing was at everyone got out OK and noing good was left of our helicopter. In summary e 553 Recon Sq flew many ABCCC missions over Cambodia in 1971, using call sign Ramrod. The Squadron did a great job. The call sign Ramrod may still be in use today in ABCCC operations. Dale Cullop provides e following information about e last period of Batcat after e wing deactivated. There were about 11 EC-121R s left ere in Dec 70 when e wing deactivated, and we started losing em slowly. By Dec.71 ere was just e one. The 553 Reconnaissance Sq. continued to operate from Korat AB, Thailand, until Dec flying e same missions. The last airplane left Korat on 5 Dec 71. The last personnel left in January I arrived at Korat in Nov. 70 was assigned to e 553 as a Flight Engineer. Anoer Homepage visitor, John Tomany, questioned me about some strange Constellations at Korat. At e time I ought he was mistaken. Since en I ve learned about Lockheed EC-121S aircraft operating at Korat. I believe e 553 EMS, FMS, and OMS squadrons provided

13 maintenance support, wi e aircraft and pilots for e EC-121S aircraft coming from e Pennsylvania Air National Gua. I have a few books on e Lockheed Constellation, but ere is only a passing reference to e S model and none of e books I have a photograph of e S model. My Batcat Homepage now has two photographs of e EC-121S taken at Korat, my anks to Greg Krzyzak, 553 FMS, for making ese photos available of a very little known variant of e EC-121. Final EC-121R Departs Korat for Davis-Monan and Scrapping On December 15, 1971 e last Lockheed EC-121R at Korat, , departed for Davis- Monan AFB, arriving on December 18, By April 1972 e last of e USAF EC-121R aircraft were being scrapped. No EC-121R exists today. During its time in Sou East Asia e 553 Reconnaissance Wing earned e following: 553 Reconnaissance Wing Campaigns and Awas CAMPAIGN STREAMERS: Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Souwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V. DECORATIONS: Air Force Outstanding Unit Awas wi Combat V Device, 1 April 1967 to 31 May 1968; 1 July 1968 to 15 April 1969; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross wi Palm, 1 April 1967 to 15 December As wi all my material ere is always a date and revision level. Those revisions occur when readers find errors or omissions to e article. Anyone who can provide additional details, correct my errors, or omissions, are asked to contact e auor, Larry Westin, <westin@westin553.net> or via postal mail at: Larry Westin Vee Street Tehachapi, California (661) westin@westin553.net Homepage