THE WALL OF FACES

On January 13, 1969, pilot Lt Col Norman D. Eaton and navigator Capt Paul H. Getchell were flying a Martin B-57B Canberra (#52-1561) from the 8th Bomb Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force, call sign Yellowbird 52, on a night bombing mission over Laos. In the target area, Yellowbird 52 was cleared to attack the target by the Forward Air Controller (FAC). They made one successful napalm pass and one dry-run pass. Eaton was then cleared by the FAC for a third pass. At the time, the FAC was on a heading which precluded him from observing the third pass; however, he noticed an explosion shortly after Yellowbird 52 radioed “Off target.” No further contact was made with Yellowbird 52. Another FAC in the area reported picking up a two-second beeper signal. Search and rescue efforts were initiated but neither voice nor beeper signals were heard. These efforts were suspended at 7:00 PM on January 14, 1969, following negative contact with the crew and no crash site located. Both crewmen were placed in a status of missing. Each man was promoted, Eaton to Colonel, and Getchell to Lieutenant Colonel. Thirty-five years later, during January-February 2005, a joint Lao-U.S. team visited the area and began excavation of a suspected crash site. Human remains recovered from these efforts were positively identified the following year as those of Eaton and Getchell. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

read more read less

POSTED ON 10.5.2024

POSTED BY: kr

2024 POW/MIA Poster - Former MIA Col ND Eaton, USMA 1949, USAF

Shown is the 2024 Department of Defense POW/MIA Poster. The remains of former MIA Colonel Norman Dale Eaton, USMA Class of 1949, USAF, were positively identified by JPAC (now the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)) in 2007. Colonel Eaton rests in honored glory in Arlington National Cemetery.

read more read less

POSTED ON 8.11.2024

POSTED BY: Dennis Wriston

I'm Proud of Our Vietnam Veterans

Colonel Norman Dale Eaton, Served with the Headquarters Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. He was assigned to the 8th Bomb Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Group, 7th Air Force, when he was killed in action.

read more read less

POSTED ON 5.29.2024

POSTED BY: Laura Zajac

POW bracelet

Col. Norman D. Eaton was the POW on my POW bracelet I had when I was 8. I constantly looked in the newspaper to try to find my guy. At 61 I remembered his name and Googled his name. Lo and Behold, HERE HE IS! Thank you for your service Col. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Laura Zajac

read more read less

POSTED ON 8.19.2022

POSTED BY: Jim Hemphill, SSgt 8th TBS CC 561

The Last Salute

It has been 53 + years since I last saw your face and that of Cpt. Getchell. Jack and I strapped you both in that night, I signaled you to start the engines, when they were started you had a red light and shut down one engine and we could not find a problem, you wanted to start again. No light this time and you taxied out and I Saluted you and you Saluted back. when you were at the end of the runway the light came on again. This the problem was found a frayed wire which was repaired, engine restarted and you were off to never to return. My second send off in a month with the same result. I have remembered you both for all the 53 years. We lost Jack last month, I do hope you and he found each other and were able to talk about those days. I Salute you again Sir, God speed until that day I might see your face again. Jim Hemphill, SSgt 8th TBS CC 561

read more read less

1 2 3 … 6 Next