Entry: 99506
Subject: FAT CATS
Subject: FAT CATS
Wes Te Winkle wrote on June 14, 2020
City and State: ESTES PARK CO
Unit: 344 TCS, 315 DIV
Service or Relationship: Air Force
Comments: In August 1953 I was first assigned to Brady Air Base and then in September 1953 I was reassigned to the Fat Cat Squadron (C-46) at Tachikawa, Japan. In early 1955 I was reassigned to the 22nd TCS (C-124) also at Tachikawa when the Fat Cat squadron was disbanded. A great book about all of the Brady, Ashiya, and Tachikawa Squadrons and their flying missions in and out of Korea from June 1950 to August 1954 is called "The Greatest Airlift - The story of Combat Cargo", by Captain A. G. Thompson. It can be found at Amazon. It will answer a lot of questions about these squadrons and the men who flew the missions with hundreds of pictures.
Keywords: Fat Cats
Entry: 95259
Subject: HOKAIDO AIR CRASH
Subject: HOKAIDO AIR CRASH
Leonard Helfand wrote on January 14, 2018
City and State: MORGAN HILL CA
Unit: 344TH TCS
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: Was with the 344TH TCS as the chief flight engineer on a C-46 out of Tachikawa during and to the end o the Korean Police action. Due to my being over my flight time for the month, I couldn't take the flight to Hokaido. Unfortunately my best friend took the flight for me and it ploughed in on Feb. 1ST killing all aboard. I still suffer from what they now call PTSD and wish that I can stop having the GOD awful dreams
Keywords: LEN
Entry: 91876
Subject: 344TH FAT CATS
Subject: 344TH FAT CATS
John S. Reddoch JR. wrote on September 9, 2015
City and State: KILN MS
Unit: 344TH TROOP CARRIER SQDN
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: I was stationed @ Tachikawa from dec 1951 until 1952 when they moved the entire squadron to Brady. I was a radio operator on c-46's. I was assigned to the 313th @ Mitchell AFB N.Y., in 1953 they moved to Sewart AFB Tn. I got out in 1954
Keywords:
Entry: 91491
Subject: FAT CATS PATCH
Subject: FAT CATS PATCH
Leonard Helfand wrote on July 1, 2015
City and State: MORGAN HILL CA
Unit: 344TH TCS
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: Have a Zippo Lighter with the Fat Cat emblem. Does anyone know anyone that has the squadron patch for duplication?
Keywords: Len Helfand
Several flights to and from Tachikawa to Korea K sites.
Entry: 88464
Subject: LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO KNEW ME
Subject: LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO KNEW ME
Cleophus Scrutchions wrote on March 5, 2014
City and State: CHICAGO IL
Unit: 344 FAT CATS
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: I would like to know if anyone who know how to contact Kenneth Bonine. Arron Powel
Keywords:
Entry: 83704
Subject: LOOKING FOR BUDDY
Subject: LOOKING FOR BUDDY
Thad Morgan SR. wrote on July 21, 2012
City and State: HUNTSVILLE AL
Unit: 315TH TC 344TH TC 6461ST
Service or Relationship: Army Veteran
Comments: HEY JAMES P GET IN TOUCH
Keywords: KIMPO TACHAKAWA
Entry: 81477
Subject: FAT CATS PILOT
Subject: FAT CATS PILOT
William J. Christie II wrote on December 26, 2011
City and State:
Unit: RETIRED USAF
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: My father was a pilot and aircraft commander in the 344
Troop Carrier Sqdn. They flew out of Tachikawa and
throughout Korea and later into Indochina. The unit
changed to the 6475th Flying Training Sqdn as I
remember to train Japanese pilots from WW Two. I
believe the unit had a relationship with CAT (Civil Air
Transport) a proprietary of the CIA that also flew C-46s
Keywords: Pilot aircraft commander Fat Cats 6475 Flying Training Sqdn
Entry: 61546
Subject: THIS FAT CAT GAVE THE WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS
Subject: THIS FAT CAT GAVE THE WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS
Leonard Gray wrote on July 7, 2007
Email Update Needed
City and State: KUTTAWA KY
Unit: 344 TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: In my previous post I listed my email address incorrectly. I would love to hear from each and everyone one of you that was a member of the Fat Cats or had a family member that was in the Fat Cats.
Keywords:
Entry: 61466
Subject: I WAS A FAT CAT 52-53; CREW CHIEF C-46 #0025
Subject: I WAS A FAT CAT 52-53; CREW CHIEF C-46 #0025
Leonard Gray wrote on June 30, 2007
Email Update Needed
City and State: KUTTAWA KY
Unit: 344 TROOP CARRIER SQADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: Looking for Clarence E "Maggie" McGuire, Joe Massey, Daniel Fox.
Keywords: GI party at the Barn Christmas Eve 52; tail number 025
Entry: 59934
Subject: BRADY AND TACHIKAWA AFB
Subject: BRADY AND TACHIKAWA AFB
Floyd Trehern wrote on February 6, 2007
Email Update Needed
City and State: JACKSON MS
Unit: 6TH TROOP CARRIER SQ SDN
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: I was stationed at Brady AFB from Sept '52 until Jan. '53 and flew as a flight Eng. I transfered to Tachikawa and flew as a scanner on C-124s until June 1953. Most of my flying was into Korea; however, I did make trips to Okinawa, Philippines, and Iwo Jima.
Keywords: C-46s and C-124s
Entry: 59017
Subject: LOOKING FOR ANYBODY
Subject: LOOKING FOR ANYBODY
Frank Fabian wrote on September 24, 2006
Email Update Needed
City and State: LAS VEGAS NV
Unit: 344TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: Assigned to the 344th TCS at Brady Field, Nov. 1952 as
a radio operator, then transferred to Tachikawa, and
flew to Korea and back, then left in March 1954. Would like to hear from anyone that was there at that time.
Keywords: 344th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fat Cats
Entry: 55688
Subject: LOOKING FOR ANYBODY
Subject: LOOKING FOR ANYBODY
Thomas Deane SR. wrote on February 10, 2006
City and State: OLALLA WA
Unit: 344THTCS
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran
Comments: I was stationed to brady,transfered to tachikwa, transfered C-46s to japanese at tachikwa. I was a flight mech. 43151W, 1954 to 55 i think.
Keywords:
Entry: 55175
Subject: FAT CATS
Subject: FAT CATS
Diane Musselwhite wrote on January 14, 2006
City and State: CLERMONT FL
Unit: 344TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: I'm looking for any information that someone may share on my father, Capt. Homer E. Scheets, pilot in the 344th TCS. I have a FAT CATS logo on a beer mug. Any information on my father's war experiences would be very welcomed. Very little is known, as he died in a training mission in a B-24 crash March 28th, 1958.
Keywords: Korean War
Entry: 46247
Subject: SEARCH YOUR MEMORIES
Subject: SEARCH YOUR MEMORIES
Michael Collins wrote on October 10, 2004
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit:
Service or Relationship: Family Member
Comments: Does anybody, anywhere have any information on this accident that happened so many years ago? I have some info from the USAF that I gleaned via FOIA but there are still gaps.
Michael Collins
Cleveland, Ohio
My father was aboard that ill-fated aircraft.
Keywords: Aircraft crash, C-46, South of Hokkaido Island, 01/02/54...an aircraft of 315th Troop Carrier Wing. Pilot: Donald B. Shirley, 1LT.
Entry: 28381
Subject: PRIDE: THE FAT CATS
Subject: PRIDE: THE FAT CATS
Leonard Helfand wrote on September 20, 2002
City and State:
Unit: 344TH TCS (FAT CATS)
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: Proudly served under Captain Hanig from Jan 1953-Sept 1954. Was a flight engineer and crew chief on a C46 which survived Korea, Big Switch and Little Switch as well as a typhoon. Slept in a tent next to the playing fields of the Tachikawa Red Devils and lost a good friend named Ravling in a crash going into a northern island.
Miss the cofee and cake at the CAT shack. Age has taken its toll on my memory of the guys that I lived with, except for a sargent Fink and an airman 2nd named Bryzinski.
Keywords:
Entry: 15660
Subject: 1952-55
Subject: 1952-55
Harold B. Hanig wrote on March 28, 2001
Email Update Needed
City and State:
Unit: 344TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea
Comments: 344th Troop Carrier Squadron (Fat Cats) C-46
Brady and Tachikawa ABs July 1952-July 1955
Keywords:
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