JOHN
PATRICK RYAN
Flying Officer J/4758 15 (R.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Canadian Air Force.
Born
at Timaru on 29 March 1912. After leaving school (Waimate College)
he met his future wife in Timaru and married in Melbourne after
which they returned to New Zealand. John then travelled to the
U.S. to study and, when he had completed the course, his wife
joined him and they both worked for Bernar McFadden in Dansville,
New York. While at Dansville, John Ryan learned to fly. When war
broke out, they waited for their son (John Jnr) to be born (November
'39) and then tried to get a booking for mother and son to return
to New Zealand. Being war time, this took some time, but they
finally secured a cabin on the Port Hunter. After their departure,
John Ryan travelled to Canada to enlist in the RCAF, 11
OTU from 27 Jun 41, and joined 15 Sqn 1 Aug 41. Promoted to Flying
Officer 16 Mar 42.
Died on Monday 18 May 1942 . Age 30 .
Additional Information: Son of John Joseph and Mary Ryan;
husband of Wilhelmina Ryan, father of John (Jnr) Ryan, of Lower
Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.
Cemetery: ODENSE (ASSISTENS) CEMETERY, Denmark
Grave or Reference Panel Number: Grave
BD. 383.
