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Submit- Full
name
RYAN, Robert W - Date of
birth
1920 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Indiana -
Hometown
Marion County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15084322 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
452nd Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 November 1944 - Place of
death
Forest du Vau, Gondrecourt-le-Château, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 29 | 48 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas Ryan (father)
Marie Ryan (mother)
Doris Ryan (sister)
William Ryan (brother)
Thomas Ryan (brother)
Donald Ryan (brother)
Wayne Ryan (brother)
Patrick Ryan (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-34146 -
Data
Type: B-26G-01
Nickname: Sarah E
Destination: Landau, Germany
MACR: 10180
More information
Robert W. Ryan graduated from Arsenal Technical High School and worked for the General Motors Corporation as a mechanic.He volunteered for the Air Corps of Army of the United States at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 2 January 1942.
The mission was to bomb a target at Landau. The records available doesn't specify the type of target. The secondary target was a bridge in Trier.
According to a statement of 1st Lt James H. McCarty, who was flying another B-26 in the same group, they flew into an overcast when they returned form the secondary target and encountered severe icing conditions. In the vicinity of Nancy, France, his airplane went into a spiral, due to the icing. He managed to pull out of it and called the other group members to hear if they were allright. Alle crews responded except the subject B-26. It was not sighted again.
The entire crew of six men was killed.
A monument at the forest commemorates the crew.
Capt Robert R. Hall was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Limey, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - The Indianapolis Star
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Thomas Welsh, www.newspapers.com - The Indianapolis Star, https://www.aerosteles.net/steleen-gondrecourtlechateau-b26