Batcat The United States Air Force 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base and their EC-121R and other aircraft
Igloo White - Infiltration Surveillance Center (ISC) Task Force Alpha at Nakhon Phanom
The Igloo White operation consisted of three major components:
1 - Delivery of the sensors, first accomplished by U.S. Navy squadron VO-67 and later by the USAF 25th TFS,
2 - Monitoring of the sensors by the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, and 3 - Assimilation of the sensor
data by the Infiltration Surveillance Center (ISC) at Task Force Alpha at Nakhon Phanom, or in flight by
the Batcat EC-121R Combat Information Center. This page provides information about the ISC at Task Force Alpha.
Task Force Alpha sign in front of the Main Complex
YouTube video of Igloo White
YouTube video with an overview of Igloo White. My thanks to
Chuck Lavoie for providing the YouTube link,
added 01/15/21.
Task Force Alpha complex was housed in it's own area on Nakhon Phanom RTAFB. In addition to the USAF,
there were two main contractors; Radiation (now Harris Corp.), and IBM who supported TFA.
Base personnel referred to the complex as TFA or "The Project." It was so top secret that during
construction no one knew what was being built in the isolated area of the base, hence the term "The
Project" which stuck. TFA was a series of connected buildings surrounded by revetment.
Radiation had responsibility for connecting TFA with the Batcat EC-121R (and later the Baby Bat QU-22)
data link, acquire the data using the tracking antennas, processed the data (including magnetic tape
backup) and sent it to IBM's computers.
IBM received the processed data from Radiation and organized it into activity reports for the Air Force.
Inside the main complex were two IBM System/360 model 65 computers used to "crunch" the sensor
data. In the late 1960's the System/360 model 65 computer was capable of having up to 48KB (Kilo Bytes,
a Kilo equals 1024 bytes) of core memory (today personal computers often have 8GB (Giga Bytes) or more.
The IBM System/360 model 65 took awhile to make the calculations. IBM System/360 computers generated a lot
of heat, especially in the environment which exists in Thailand. So the bunker which housed the computer
required considerable air conditioning.
The U.S. Air Force was then able to monitor sensor data real time from their main control room and make
suggestions/decisions (such as Arc Light strikes). Frequently audio information from the sensor(s) provided
more conclusive information regarding traffic activity than the sensors' digital "blips" alone
could.
During 1970 the "Baby Bat" Beech QU-22B aircraft began operations and sent the sensor data picked
up exclusively to Task Force Alpha via data link at NKP because they had no onboard plotting capability. With
the itroduction of the QU-22B the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, began to wind down. Officially the 553rd
Reconnaissance wing inactivated on December 15, 1970, however one squadron, the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron
with it's EC-121R aircraft, was immediately reassigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing also at Korat
RTAFB and continued to fly the EC-121R. During this period, late 1970 until late 1971, truck traffic down the
Ho Chi Minh Trail declined significantly. With the reduced U.S. ground presence in South Vietnam the North
Vietnamese changed tactics moving by men and supplies all across the Demilitarized Zone rather than south along
the Trail. By late December 1971 the last EC-121R aircraft had returned to the CONUS. By the end of 1972 the last
QU-22B aircraft had returned to the CONUS. At this point Task Force Alpha was shut down, the IBM system 360
model 65 computers were removed and returned to the U.S., and TFA personnel were reassigned.
By late 1972 all the equipment and personnel which supported Task Force Alpha at NKP were gone, the buildings
which made up the complex empty. With the U.S. wind down in Vietnam, Seventh Air Force moved its headquarter's
out of Saigon and set up 7th AF headquarters at Nakhon Phanom. Seventh Air Force used the complex of buildings
which once was Task Force Alpha until mid 1975 when 7th AF headquarters in Thailand was inactivated. Once again
the Task Force Alpha complex of buildings was vacant. This overview was added 05/15/15,
last updated 06/15/15.
Task Force Alpha CHECO Report
The Air Force Historical Research Agency has declassified some of the
"Project
Contempary
Historical
Examination of
Current
Operations Reports,"
or more commonly just a "CHECO"
report. Other CHECO reports are at
Project CHECO reports which pertain to the 553rd Reconnaissance
Wing, College Eye and others. Added 07/30/14, updated 09/01/18.
This Igloo White CHECO report is dated November 1971 and says it covers the period from
January 1970 to September 1971. Actually it covers 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.
Task Force Alpha NCO of the Month Award
Task Force Alpha was very classified. Most USAF units conducted an Airman of the Month competition
once a month, Task Force Alpha conducted a NCO (non-commissioned officer) of the month award. At Task Force
Alpha the NCO of the month received a cast mug as a reward for winning the NCO of month. View of one side of the
NCO of the Month Mug,
here is a view of the
Other side of the Task Force Alpha NCO of the month mug. This award is unique in being a cast metal
mug, at Korat the airman of the month received a wooden plaque. My thanks to
Michelle Madeen for these images. My thanks to
Tim Gette for sending me a correction to the write up for
this section. Images are color, about 282K and 291K. Added 09/29/20,
Last updated 02/04/21.
Task Force Alpha Complex Images
This is an image of the Task Force Alpha Main Complex.
The dish antennas are parabolic tracking antennas, three 10' and one 30.' Most orbits could be tracked using one
of the smaller dishs. However, some orbits were so far out that the large dish was necessary in order to
acquire a "lock" and "track" on the aircraft. My thanks to
Mike Doran for this image. Color, about 180K.
added 05/15/15.
This is an Aerial View of Task Force Alpha Main Complex.
Note the camoflage on top of the buildings. The TFA complex was located at the southeast part of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB.
Color, about 45K. Added 07/08/15.
This is another different aerial view of
the entire Task Force Alpha Complex. TFA is located in the square area at the bottom right of this image. A small image,
however it gives a good overview. B&W, about 18K. added 07/08/15.
View of the Thirty foot Parabolic Antenna. This image
also shows
more of TFA's roof and revetment structure. My thanks to Mike Doran
for this image. Color, about 246K. added 05/15/15.
This is an elevated view of the power house, security
gate and parking lot. The actual mission equipment was below and to the right of this view. Note the perimeter area in the upper
right. This perimeter was mined and had trip flares. My thanks to Mike Doran
for this image. Color, about 214K. added 05/15/15.
Task Force Alpha Antenna Farm
Task Force Alpha has an extensive antenna system. Not only was data link from the aircraft, but also UHF
voice communications from the CICO/ACICO in the EC-121R to confirm at each change of aircraft that the data
link was actually established and received by Task Force Alpha.
This is an elevated view of the Task Force
Alpha UHF Antenna System taken from another antenna tower. These antennas were used for voice communications
with the aircraft. My thanks to Mike Doran for this image. Color, about 166K.
added 05/15/15.
Here is another elevated view showing a different area of the
Task Force Alpha UHF Antenna farm taken from another antenna tower. These antennas were used for
voice communications with the CICO/ACICO on board the Batcat EC-121R aircraft.
My thanks to Mike Doran for this image. Color, about 175K.
added 05/15/15.
This is a ground view showing additional TFA
antennas. The 100' tower on the left supported a highly directional bore sight antenna used for insuring
the proper calibration of the 4 tracking dish's azthimuth and elevation data. The tower on the right contained
additional mission support antennas. My thanks to Mike Doran for this
image. Color, about 172K. added 05/15/15.
SEATO at Task Force Alpha
SEATO Task Force Alpha Patch
John Spencer sent me the above image
of a "SEATO - Task Force Alpha" patch. That is the first time I've seen the "SEATO - Task Force Alpha patch."
Here is what I can tell you.
SEATO was the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, started in 1954, disbanded 1977. Thailand, along with a
number of other countries made up SEATO. During my research into the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing I found in
the JFK Presidential Library several letters between JFK and King of Thailand, the Thai Foreign Ministe,
and the Thai ambassador to the U.S. Reading these letter it is was apparent to me Thailand was not
satisfied with SEATO.
Task Force Alpha existed from 1967 through 1972 as the Infiltration Surveillance Center. (ISC). With
the down sizing of US forces in Southeast Asia, the ISC was disbanded in late 1972. After 1972 the buildings
were taken over by Seventh AF. Seventh AF, and the USAF, abandoned the facility in 1975. I suspect, but
don't know for certain, that 1976 is when SEATO would have a part in the Task Force Alpha complex. SEATO was
officially disbanded in 1977.
If you can provide any additional information please email Larry Westin,
webmaster. Email me at
westin@westin553.net - Batcat TFA SEATO Info Update with your thoughts, comments and any additional
information. I may be slow in responding. Last Updated 08/03/24
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