Batcat Mechanics and Specialists
First 553rd Propeller Shop personnel 1967 to 1968.
Back Row standing - left to right
---------------------------------
MSgt. Richard Mabe
SSgt. Philip Gammage
A2C Richard Naujakas
SSgt. John Umgling
Sgt. Carruthers
SSgt. Marriotti
SSgt. Karas
A2C Vernie Andricks
SSgt. Bobby McGraw
SMgt. Mark Wilson
MSgt. Robert Horne
Front Row kneeling - left to right
----------------------------------
Sgt. Perez
Sgt. Earl Joyce
TSgt. Mickle
Sgt. Benson
Sgt. Paul Miglioni
Sgt. Philip Mullis
A2C Delano Cheely
Back Row standing - left to right
---------------------------------
MSgt. Richard Mabe
SSgt. Philip Gammage
A2C Richard Naujakas
SSgt. John Umgling
Sgt. Carruthers
SSgt. Marriotti
SSgt. Karas
A2C Vernie Andricks
SSgt. Bobby McGraw
SMgt. Mark Wilson
MSgt. Robert Horne
Front Row kneeling - left to right
----------------------------------
Sgt. Perez
Sgt. Earl Joyce
TSgt. Mickle
Sgt. Benson
Sgt. Paul Miglioni
Sgt. Philip Mullis
A2C Delano Cheely
From
Bob
Langenhan
Thanks for the insight. I feel privileged to be included in the 1st Wave-just that you guys
are sharing specific thoughts and memories that are both general as well as personal, and
are like turning the pages of a hidden diary. I’ll share something with you: last year at the
Reunion at Wright-Patterson, I checked in to get my name tag at the desk for me and my
wife and the gentleman who was manning the desk shook my hand when he found out I
was OMS. He said “Thank you, we really appreciate what you guys did to keep the planes
in great shape”. It genuinely brought a tear to my eye and shook me to my core. I have
never been thanked, nor really expected it-we all did our jobs and when rotating back to
the States, we had to sneak into Travis and change into civvies for the domestic flights so
no one would recognize we were military. I arrived at LaGuardia in NYC at 2am and sat in
the waiting room till the sun came up before I headed home. I used to watch your bus
arrive at the Connie on the ramp and watched as you guys ventured up to your stations
on board while we kept the other eye on the AC during his preflight inspection. We
watched when you returned, chocked the aircraft, set up the B-2 stand and saw you tired
and drained and file back into the sanctity of the blue bus. Actually, I did receive kudos
from a flight crew one night—it was a 3 or 4am take off and after pulling the chocks, we
followed the aircraft to the end of the runway and waited for the AC to complete his max
power run up “on step” and as part of our routine, we would re-inspect the usual fittings,
nacelles and wheel wells for leaks or any visual anomalies. With flashlight in hand I
hopped up on the left main landing gear and located a hydraulic leak that would have
required more than just the tightening of a flange so I determined the plane grounded and
the flight was aborted. We towed the plane back to the parking spot and everyone in the
maintenance truck is giving me the 20 mile stare-like the one you get from the car
salesman AFTER you bought the car...with the engines shut down, the leak obviously
stopped pumping fluid and some hydraulic NCO with a chew of tobacco and what looked
like 17 stripes on his well starched fatigue shirtsleeve crawls up the wheel well and
inspects his reservoir and lines and wonders what that pinhead crew chief did to his hydro-
baby. He asked me if I Red X’d this plane and I told him I did-he said he’ll have his men
repair it on day shift. The crew got off the aircraft and some looked up the landing gear to
see the leak and smiled and nodded in our direction. We then headed to launch a 7am
flight before heading to the chow hall and watch the scorpion fights the locals had out
back by the loading dock.
Thanks to all of us for a job well done. Bob
Bob
Langenhan
Thanks for the insight. I feel privileged to be included in the 1st Wave-just that you guys
are sharing specific thoughts and memories that are both general as well as personal, and
are like turning the pages of a hidden diary. I’ll share something with you: last year at the
Reunion at Wright-Patterson, I checked in to get my name tag at the desk for me and my
wife and the gentleman who was manning the desk shook my hand when he found out I
was OMS. He said “Thank you, we really appreciate what you guys did to keep the planes
in great shape”. It genuinely brought a tear to my eye and shook me to my core. I have
never been thanked, nor really expected it-we all did our jobs and when rotating back to
the States, we had to sneak into Travis and change into civvies for the domestic flights so
no one would recognize we were military. I arrived at LaGuardia in NYC at 2am and sat in
the waiting room till the sun came up before I headed home. I used to watch your bus
arrive at the Connie on the ramp and watched as you guys ventured up to your stations
on board while we kept the other eye on the AC during his preflight inspection. We
watched when you returned, chocked the aircraft, set up the B-2 stand and saw you tired
and drained and file back into the sanctity of the blue bus. Actually, I did receive kudos
from a flight crew one night—it was a 3 or 4am take off and after pulling the chocks, we
followed the aircraft to the end of the runway and waited for the AC to complete his max
power run up “on step” and as part of our routine, we would re-inspect the usual fittings,
nacelles and wheel wells for leaks or any visual anomalies. With flashlight in hand I
hopped up on the left main landing gear and located a hydraulic leak that would have
required more than just the tightening of a flange so I determined the plane grounded and
the flight was aborted. We towed the plane back to the parking spot and everyone in the
maintenance truck is giving me the 20 mile stare-like the one you get from the car
salesman AFTER you bought the car...with the engines shut down, the leak obviously
stopped pumping fluid and some hydraulic NCO with a chew of tobacco and what looked
like 17 stripes on his well starched fatigue shirtsleeve crawls up the wheel well and
inspects his reservoir and lines and wonders what that pinhead crew chief did to his hydro-
baby. He asked me if I Red X’d this plane and I told him I did-he said he’ll have his men
repair it on day shift. The crew got off the aircraft and some looked up the landing gear to
see the leak and smiled and nodded in our direction. We then headed to launch a 7am
flight before heading to the chow hall and watch the scorpion fights the locals had out
back by the loading dock.
Thanks to all of us for a job well done. Bob
I am Charles D Silverstein. I served in the
551st AEW&C WG for over 4 years until I
was transferred to the
553rd Recon Wg, FMS. That was in Feb.
1967. One of the real 1st in the 553rd. In
fact I still have the #1 AFTO
Form 135. T/sgt Ron Brunnabend and I
raced around the base clearing all the
hurdles in order to become
1st Batcats. We are Aircraft Electricians.
I will be sending you some of my original
photos taken from the 1st eval flight to
Panama with photos of the plane
and some of the FMS and OMS troops. I
noticed that you (or someone) left out the
name of Airman Yingling in
the photo of the Prop Shop. He's the troop I
think the 4th from the left standing with a
Batcat patch over his right
pocket. He was on the trip to Panama.
T/sgt Sal Magana (42370) and I (42350)
were in the 1st flight of 9 Connies out of Otis
going to Korat. I still have
orders and manifests of the trip I can copy
and send.
My memories are from a FMS point of view,
the workingmen, the technicians who kept
the electricity and enginesand other aircraft
systems turning.
Any thing else you need from a
workingman's point of view I'll be eager to
help you with, as much as I can or remember.
I thank Larry Westin who worked hard and
long hours keeping the memory of the
Batcat and those who gave theirall in our
memories.I almost forgot...some of us had to
return to Korat in order to help out in
April/May of 1969. More about that later.
Chuck
Batcat
Cliff,
Arley Hamilton sent me the link to your website for the 1st Wave. I was assigned to Otis in May of 1967. I helped build
the MockUP equipment for the Radio Shop. I shipped out to Korat on the C141's in October. I remember the trip well
because a hydraulic line blew out inside the cargo area and sprayed several guys when we were between Alaska and
Japan. I believe everyone was praying a little then. We arrived in Korat with field jacks on, buy it didn't take long to
shed them.
I was assigned to the Radio Shop my entire tour in Korat. I left in October 1968.
I have quite a few pictures of this time that I will have to dig out.
Keep me in the loop.
Thanks,
Ronnie (Ron) Walker
Arley Hamilton sent me the link to your website for the 1st Wave. I was assigned to Otis in May of 1967. I helped build
the MockUP equipment for the Radio Shop. I shipped out to Korat on the C141's in October. I remember the trip well
because a hydraulic line blew out inside the cargo area and sprayed several guys when we were between Alaska and
Japan. I believe everyone was praying a little then. We arrived in Korat with field jacks on, buy it didn't take long to
shed them.
I was assigned to the Radio Shop my entire tour in Korat. I left in October 1968.
I have quite a few pictures of this time that I will have to dig out.
Keep me in the loop.
Thanks,
Ronnie (Ron) Walker
Last Updated: 1/13/12
Here is a picture of some of the guys that lived
in my hotch. Mark Mason sent me this picture.
In the picture from left to right is Bucky
Whitter, Bob Standfield, Bob Mansfield, Rick (
not sure of the last name), and Robin Stern.
The guy next to the house girls I believe is Sgt
Woodson. He was the guy that if you needed
anything he could get it by hook or crook. Bob
Mansfield
in my hotch. Mark Mason sent me this picture.
In the picture from left to right is Bucky
Whitter, Bob Standfield, Bob Mansfield, Rick (
not sure of the last name), and Robin Stern.
The guy next to the house girls I believe is Sgt
Woodson. He was the guy that if you needed
anything he could get it by hook or crook. Bob
Mansfield
Cliff, here is a picture of the first hootch we lived in, it was on the fence
line. When it would rain it woild flood between the road and the hootch.
It flooded so bad one time that some guys got a piece of wood and
were surfing. They condemed it and we had to move into a bigger one
that had grass around it.
Bob
Robert Mansfield
line. When it would rain it woild flood between the road and the hootch.
It flooded so bad one time that some guys got a piece of wood and
were surfing. They condemed it and we had to move into a bigger one
that had grass around it.
Bob
Robert Mansfield
Panama 1967
Cliff,
I have very few shots of the Panama trip of 21 April 1967.
I have the TEMPORARY DUTY ORDER - MILITARY here in
front of me. This photo I wish I'd sent sooner...it shows Louis C.
Gobron all the way to the right. I remember him telling me he
was called Lucky. He was a good troop, hard working,and an
okay guy. If I remember right he lived in the trailer park just of
base near the main gate. I saw your notice of a few days ago
that he is gone. He was, and we will always remain, Batcat.
Charles D Silverstein
I have very few shots of the Panama trip of 21 April 1967.
I have the TEMPORARY DUTY ORDER - MILITARY here in
front of me. This photo I wish I'd sent sooner...it shows Louis C.
Gobron all the way to the right. I remember him telling me he
was called Lucky. He was a good troop, hard working,and an
okay guy. If I remember right he lived in the trailer park just of
base near the main gate. I saw your notice of a few days ago
that he is gone. He was, and we will always remain, Batcat.
Charles D Silverstein
In the photo are
SMSGT Husted, Benjamin W. OMS
A1C Yingling, John H. Prop. Shop FMS
Sitting
SSGT Benoit, Robert P. Hyd. Shop FMS
Next is the Crew Chief...
A1C Curran, Larry OMS
SSGT Gobron, Louis C. OMS
SMSGT Husted, Benjamin W. OMS
A1C Yingling, John H. Prop. Shop FMS
Sitting
SSGT Benoit, Robert P. Hyd. Shop FMS
Next is the Crew Chief...
A1C Curran, Larry OMS
SSGT Gobron, Louis C. OMS
TSGT Christman, James B. OMS
Is hardly seen in the lower left. Then,
TSGT McCullough, James E. FMS Eng.
Mechanic
A1C Newcomb, David W. FMS I
forget his specialty. If anyone knows
please advise.
Is hardly seen in the lower left. Then,
TSGT McCullough, James E. FMS Eng.
Mechanic
A1C Newcomb, David W. FMS I
forget his specialty. If anyone knows
please advise.
In his white 'dress' shirt is
SSGT Benoit, Robert P. FMS
Hyd. Specialist
Up in the nacelle is, I believe
TSGT Vasquez, Ismael J. FMS
Fuel Specialist
TSGT McCullough, James E. FMS
Eng Specialist
A1C Curran, Larry OMS
Crew Chief
SSGT Benoit, Robert P. FMS
Hyd. Specialist
Up in the nacelle is, I believe
TSGT Vasquez, Ismael J. FMS
Fuel Specialist
TSGT McCullough, James E. FMS
Eng Specialist
A1C Curran, Larry OMS
Crew Chief
I think that's A1C NewComb, David W.
at the fire bottle for Eng Start.We all helped where we could.
I remember once being at the end of the left wing
fueling the tip tank. Me, the Electrician. AND it did not explode!!!!!!!!!!
at the fire bottle for Eng Start.We all helped where we could.
I remember once being at the end of the left wing
fueling the tip tank. Me, the Electrician. AND it did not explode!!!!!!!!!!
Moving the MD-3
Engines all started, can't see who is doing what, but we got
it done.
I think it's Newcomb moving the MD-3, TSGT Christman walking
over to assist, CC Curran where the FE can see him, and
TSGT McCullough 'listening' to the engines. No, checking for
oil leaks more likely...
Notice the planes on the field. Howard AFB, Canal Zone, Panama, by the way.
A C-47 to the right, and a C-46 to the left.
Engines all started, can't see who is doing what, but we got
it done.
I think it's Newcomb moving the MD-3, TSGT Christman walking
over to assist, CC Curran where the FE can see him, and
TSGT McCullough 'listening' to the engines. No, checking for
oil leaks more likely...
Notice the planes on the field. Howard AFB, Canal Zone, Panama, by the way.
A C-47 to the right, and a C-46 to the left.
Chocks out.
Connie 472 off the Block
I think was the expression used when the wheels
were turning.
I think was the expression used when the wheels
were turning.
The Original Snoopy?
On the nose of 472 on Panama "Pot Lid" trip of 21 Apr 1967.
Who put it there????????????
On the nose of 472 on Panama "Pot Lid" trip of 21 Apr 1967.
Who put it there????????????
Thanks Charles
Left to right: Bob Stanfield, Rick Egelstad, Rob (Woody) Stern,
Bob Mansfield, Alan Newport. OMS hootch
Bob Mansfield, Alan Newport. OMS hootch
OMS GROUP
Listen to Bob Langenhan
address the the reunion.
Play audio below
address the the reunion.
Play audio below
HOOTCH LIFE
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