Batcat
The United States Air Force
553rd Reconnaissance Wing
The CHECO Reports

This page was created 07/30/14, Last updated 12/13/21.

During the Vietnam war several studies were conducted to evaluate specific operations. These reports were identified as
"Project Contempary Historical Examination of Current Operations Report," or more commonly just a "CHECO" report.
The CHECO reports went into detail about the specific operation the report covered.

These reports were classified at the time they were written. Recently, since about 2006 on, the Air Force Historical Research Agency has declassified some of the CHECO reports.

What is presented here are CHECO reports which have been declassified, which I have a copy of, and which are pertinent to the combat operations of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, during its operatoins at Korat RTAFB between late 1967 and December 15, 1970. On December 15, 1970 the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing was inactivated, however the wing's EC-121R aircraft and the assigned squadron personnel were immediately reassigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing also at Korat RTAFB. Batcat continued to fly combat missions using the EC-121R as a unit of the 388th TFW until December 1971 when the last EC-121R departed Korat RTAFB for the U.S. It was not until early 1972 before all of those who were originally assigned to the 553rd Recon Wing (but now assigned to the 388th TFW) returned to the U.S.

NOTE - the CHECO reports presented here are very large in file size, in Adobe PDF format. Recommend a high speed Internet connection to down load. At this time all of the CHECO reports are formated in Adobe Acrobat version 8. You will need Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8 or later to read these PDF files. See below to download a free copy of the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader from the official Adobe site.

SUGGESTION - after the report is downloaded into your browser and displayed, then save the file to your PC hard drive. Once the file is saved to your PC hard drive it will be accesible off line, which allows you to load, display, and move through pages much faster than you can on line. If you have difficulties contact me by email at westin@westin553.net and let me know which file you are having trouble with, which version you downloaded, and the version of Adobe Arcobat you are using.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is free, a large application program file for which a high speed Internet connection is highly recommended. If you don't already have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your PC (most PC's already have Adobe Acrobat Reader), click on the "Get Adobe Reader" icon for a free download of the latest Acrobat Reader from the official Adobe site:


Igloo White - Task Force Alpha CHECO Reports

Igloo White Operations December 1, 1967 to March 31, 1968, about 12 meg in size. This CHECO report is dated July 31, 1968, is 64 pages in length, Adobe PDF format, and covers the initial Igloo White operations. This report prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Directorate, Tactial Evaluation. My thanks to Les Robbins for this CHECO report. Added 07/30/14, updated to version 8 PDF 12/13/21.

Igloo White Operations July 1968 to December 1969, about 14 meg in size. This CHECO report is dated January 10, 1970, is 89 pages in length, Adobe Acrobat PDF format, and covers the operations during this period. Report prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Directorate, Tactial Evaluation. My thanks to Les Robbins and John Putnam (both sent me copies of this CHECO report the same day) for this CHECO report. Added 07/30/14, updated to version 8 PDF 12/13/21.

Then next Igloo White CHECO report is dated November 1971 and says it covers the period from January 1970 to September 1971. Actually it earlier too, from September 1966 through September 1971. This is a single very large report presented here in two parts in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, version 8. Part one includes the Cover sheet, the Table of Contents, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, 84 pages, about 15meg in size. Part two covers Chapters 3 through Chapter 5, plus the appendices, 98 pages, about 17meg in size. My thanks to Stephen Miller for sending me these CHECO reports. Added 09/01/18.

Thailand Base Defense CHECO Report

Base Defense in Thailand during the Vietnam era. This CHECO report is dated February 18, 1973, 20 pages in length. This CHECO report was prepared by the Directorate of Operations Analysis, CHECO Corona Harvest Division. It includes vegetation control at Korat RTAFB and other Thailand bases used by the USAF during the Vietnam era. This file also available on the Batcat Veterans Benefit page. My thanks to Gil Jennings for this report. File is in PDF format, about 4.3 meg in size. Added 07/30/14.

Air Strikes CHECO report
Air Strike Control, about 8 meg in size. This CHECO report has two separate parts. Part 1 details control of the battle area by Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) aircraft such as the RC-47 "Alleycat" and EC-130 "Hillsboro" over the "Moonbeam" orbit. Part 2 deals with the Strike Detectors or Forward Air Controllers (FAC's). Information about the use of aircraft such as the Cessna O-1 and O-2, night FAC such as Candlestick C-123 and Blindbat C-130. My thanks to Les Robbins for this CHECO report. This CHECO report has 69 pages, Adobe PDF format. Added 08/17/14, updated 12/13/21.

College Eye CHECO Report
College Eye. This CHECO report is dated November 1, 1968, 12 pages in length. This report prepared by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Directorate, Tactial Evaluation, CHECO divison. File is in PDF format, 368K Bytes in size. College Eye EC-121D aircraft operated at Korat RTAFB along side the Batcat EC-121R aircraft on the same ramp. My thanks to John Putnam for sending me this file. Added 07/30/14.

Here is an updated CHECO report. Although still dated November 1, 1968, it far more comprehensive and because of its size is divided into two parts. Format is Adobe Acrobat PDF version 8. Part one includes the Cover sheet, the Table of Contents, Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, 56 pages, about 3meg in size. Part two covers Chapters 4 and Chapter 5, Source Notes, plus the appendices, 60 pages, about 3meg in size. My thanks to Stephen Miller for sending me these CHECO reports. Added 09/01/18.




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