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name
RYAN, John F Jr - Date of
birth
2 March 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon -
Hometown
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-758633 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
12 June 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, 9 miles off Dunkerque, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John F. Ryan (father)
Josephine Ryan (mother)
Virginia Ryan (sister)
Delores L. Ryan (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37601 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Rosières-en-Santerre, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 5625
More information
2nd Lt John F. Ryan Jr. graduated from Washington High School. He attended Brentwood College and Gonzaga University.He joined the Canadian Royal Air Forces in September 1941. He transferred to the USAAF after Pearl Harbor. He was sent overseas in May 1944.
The crew was on their first mission.
The aircraft was hit by flak over Dunkerque at 08.53 hours at 24,000 feet. The #4 engine caught fire and the right wing broke off near the the #4 engine inducing a spin. Five or six parachutes may have come from this aircraft.
The only survivor, George L. Sherback had no recollection of leaving the plane and believed he must have been blown clear. A German officer told him the plane exploded and the remains of the other crew members went into the sea.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.100thbg.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, 1940 US Census
Photo source: www.100thbg.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-J, Marfa, Texas