The Korean War Veterans Honor Roll
Ronald Dow Eaton
Rank
Ensign, U.S. Navy
Unit
74 FITRON
Date of Death
June 25, 1952
Ensign Eaton was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 74 aboard the aircraft carrier USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CV-31). On June 25, 1952, he was attacking target in the Wonsan area of North Korea, when his aircraft was hit by flak at an altitude of 8,000 feet and he bailed out. He was successfully picked up by a H-5H helicopter piloted by Captain Leslie W. Lear from the 3rd Rescue Squadron, U.S. Air Force. Captain Lear's aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed ten miles south of Chongsong-ni Korea, killing all three on board. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.