BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Tales of the 55th took place March 27, 2025, at the Beardmore Events Center in Bellevue, Nebraska.
The annual event, held in conjunction with 55th Wing Heritage Week, was established in 1999 by retired Lt. Col. Robb Hoover as a way for wing veterans to share their personal experiences with former and current members.
This year’s event featured the 2025 55th Wing Hall of Fame inductees: retired Col. Alan Feldkamp and retired Lt. Col. Thomas Thibodeaux.
Feldkamp served as commander of the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. His career spanned operations with Cobra Ball, Combat Sent and Rivet Joint, where he served as an electronic warfare officer, instructor, evaluator and crew commander.
“I’d like to thank the association and all of you, especially the 45th members here, thank you for coming out,” Feldkamp said. “It is my privilege to be here and accept this honor.”
Thibodeaux held a variety of operational and staff positions within the Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth. His more than 46-year affiliation as a navigator, instructor and evaluator supported the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Operational Support Squadron and 338th Combat Training Squadron.
“I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to serve the 55th for almost five decades,” Thibodeaux said. “I’ll be at work tomorrow, training navigators, while everybody else goes out and supports our worldwide mission—same as we’ve done since I have been a part of this wing. The sun truly never sets on the Fightin’ 55th.”
Additionally, the RC-135S Cobra Ball crew, CRAZY23, were recognized as the Maj. Bill Palm Trophy winners at the event. They were lauded for their superior airmanship and tenacity while conducting sustained Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations as a part of the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of operations.
“They’re very deserving of this amazing recognition--their agile combat employment, their creativity and their will to get the mission done reflects great credit upon themselves and the hard-working wildcats of the 55th Wing,” said Lt. Col. Maria Methe, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron commander, who nominated the crew. “This mission is like nothing else. It was a historic moment that showcased the Air Force’s power projection, our resiliency, against difficult conditions and our ability to collect against adversaries’ technology.”