Page 16 - Avro Lancaster LM594

The Ryan crew

Flight Sergeant John Francis Ryan flew once in A-Able2, his first operation as second pilot to
Flight Lieutenant R.M. Crowther R.C.A.F. The target being the German City of Essen.

This crew failed to return from operations after their fourth operation, with just the rear gunner
Sergeant Mervyn Hall surviving as a P.O.W.

Flight Sergeant John Francis Ryan R.A.A.F - Pilot age 20 - Son of Francis Michael and Mary Ann
Ryan of Black Rock, Victoria, Australia.

Sergeant John Edward Taylor R.A.F.V.R - Flight Engineer age 20 - Son of William Henry and
Jane Taylor of Simonside, South Shields, Co. Durham.

Flight Sergeant Keith Leonard Challis R.A.F.V.R - Air bombardier age 20 - Son of Henry James
Challis and Daisy Louise Challis of Manor Park, Essex.

Pilot Officer Alan W Garnet R.C.A.F - Navigator age 23 - Son of William Henry and Kathleen
Mildred Garnet, of London, Ontario, Canada.

Sergeant David Walter Edward Swift R.A.F.V.R - Wireless Operator / Air Gunner age 20 - Son of
Walter Edward and Eleanor Ann Swift of Forest Gate, Essex.

Sergeant John Symonds R.A.FV.R - Mid upper Gunner.

Sergeant Mervyn A Hall R.A.F.V.R - Rear Gunner

(The pilot flying four operations, the first as a second pilot ʻSecond Dickieʼ.)

The operations flown by the crew:

th
11 March 1945 - Lancaster LM 594 A-Able2 - Essen - Area Bombing
(John’s first operation with an experienced Squadron Pilot)

12 March 1945 - Lancaster RA 563 Q-Queen2 - Dortmund - Area Bombing
th

15/16 March 1945 - Lancaster RA 563 Q-Queen2 - Misburg - Synthetic Oil Production
th

th
16/17 March 1945 - Lancaster PA265 O-Oboe2 - Nuremburg (Nürnberg) - Area Bombing
(The crew failed to return from this operation)