Batcats
The United States Air Force 553rd Reconnaissance Wing in Southeast Asia
by
Book Details
About the Book
Written by men who flew the missions and gathered together the recollections of their comrades, this is an account of the political, social, cultural, technical and combat context of an extraordinary side of the Vietnam conflict. An account touching on topics ranging from Thai supernaturalism to high tech warfare, it is also the very human story of American airmen obliged to keep heady secrets and perform demanding tasks under menacing conditions. A good read for aviation enthusiasts, students of the Vietnam War, veterans and those wishing to learn more about Southeast Asia, this book is more than a history. It is a holistic portrait of a little known and less understood aspect of the Vietnam "era."
About the Author
Jack Sikora flew 96 combat missions as a Batcat CICO in 1968?1969. At present he is a Senior Adjunct Lecturer in Social Sciences at Western Connecticut State University where he teaches courses in sociology, anthropology, and Asian religions. He is also a working writer whose recent book, Religions of India, was published by iUniverse. Jack has taught at Wesleyan University, Mitchell College, the Paier College of Art, and in Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Larry Westin, a life-long aviation enthusiast, flew 73 combat missions as a Batcat CIM in 1968?1969. He is employed as a National Technical Support Specialist for a multi-national company headquartered in Texas. A native of California, he now lives in Maine with his wife Susan. Larry developed and maintains the ?official? Batcat website.