Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1957 Lucky Bag:

RONALD BATCHELLER GIBSON

On 29 June 1953, this adventurous New Englander came striding through the gates of hallowed USNA. Only a few weeks had passed since Ron had completed the rigors of high school, and now he was entering into a new and more eventful phase of his life. While at the Academy, Ron became known to his classmates as a very agreeable and fun-loving guy. Extremely conscientious, Ron could always be counted on to do a favor or give a helping hand when asked. He was a real credit to anyone’s crew shell, as could be attested to by any of his fellow crew members. It is wished that Ron will continue with as much success throughout the remainder of his entire service career.

Loss

Ronald was lost on January 26, 1961 when the C-118 transport aircraft he was copilot of disappeared between the Azores and Newfoundland. He was a member of Transport Squadron (VR) 22, based at Norfolk, Virginia.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In 1940 his family lived in Millbury Town, Massachusetts. His father Harold P. was a dispatcher for the power and light company; mother Harriet, and sister Lenice.

Ronald graduated from Sutton Memorial High School in 1953 with 20 other seniors.

“To provoke laughter, without joining in it, greatly heightens the effect.”

Nickname: ”Hoot.” Ambition to be an engineer. Expression: “Get going.” Pastime: Sports, eating. Song: “In A Monastery Garden.” Activities: Glee Club, 2, 3, 4; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Baseball 1, 2, 3, 4; President 3, 4; Suttonian 2, 3, 4; Exitus Staff advertising manager 4; Senior Play “Rest Assured” 4; Student Council 4. Class Will: leaves his car to Billy Jernberg and my long curly hair to Terry Windle. Class Prophecy: electrical engineer at General Motors Corporation.

On December 28, 1958, he married Constance Crosier, an airline stewardess with United Air Lines. They would reside in Pensacola, Florida.

He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

Note

Though most databases, including Aviation Safety Network and this list of bureau numbers¹ have the aircraft as belonging to the Air Force, it seems that it had been returned to the Navy sometime before the crash.

Related Articles

Terry Emery ‘57 and Roy Seaman ‘57 were also members of 16th Company.

References