Page 4 - John Francis Ryan

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John Francis Ryan was born on 19 June 1924, the son of Francis Michael and Mary Ann (May)
Ryan in the Melbourne Suburb of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia. John’s three sisters were
Cecilia Mary (Sheila), Catherine Ellen (Kitty) and Eileen Margaret (Ellie). John attended the
Tynong State School in Gippsland, Victoria State, his parents running a general store in the town.
John later attended the St Joseph Primary school in Black Rock, then attending the newly built
St Bedes College in Mentone, a suburb of Melbourne. John was an all-round sportsman playing
besides golf, cricket and football, he also excelled in swimming.

On finishing his school education John found employment with the Smalls Camera Company as a
junior clerk and salesman. His hobby was as a golf caddy and John caddied for members of the
Royal Melbourne Golf club. John also served with the Melbourne Air Training Corps (Cadets)
between April and July 1942.

John’s family background deserves further mention as his Mother who passed away in 1937 had
an interest in Geology and Astronomy and was involved in obtaining Tynong Granite for the
construction of the Shrine of Remembrance that was being built in Melbourne. This Memorial
commemorating World War 1 casualties from the State of Victoria and all conflicts since.

Shrine of Remembrance

John’s Great Grandparents Thomas (1803-1867) and Margaret Sweeney pioneered the
settlement of Cullahill on the Yarra River in Victoria State in 1843, this settlement being named
after the Village of Cullahil (Cúlchoil), County Laois, Ireland where Thomas emigrated from.
Thomas did well out of carting potatoes and other supplies to the various gold fields such as
Bendigo, Mclvor (Heathcote), Mount Alexander and Beechworth. The Sweeney’s house
ʹCulla Hillʹ, now renamed ʹSweeneysʹ remains on a ridgeline overlooking the Yarra River.

Thomas Sweeney

At the age of 18 years old John joined the R.A.A.F and volunteered for aircrew duties, and on
14 July 1942 attended No.1 Recruit Centre in Melbourne and was given the Service
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Number: 419142. Posted to No.1 Recruit Depot at Shepparton, some 110 miles North East of
Melbourne, then posted on to R.A.A.F Headquarters at Laverton, 12 miles South West of
Melbourne, his duties at Shepparton are not stated but probably an induction into the R.A.A.F with
Laverton again possibly being an Aircrew Holding Unit where John would have stayed until a
training position became available.
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On the 7 December 1942, John was then posted onto No.1 Initial Training School at
RAAF Somers, Victoria, 56 miles South East of Melbourne. Here John would have undertaken his
basic training and undergone a physical and IQ examination for an aircrew trade.
John having been selected for pilot duties would have started his basic flying training at No.7 Initial
Flying Training School at RAAF Western Junction (now Launceston airport) Tasmania. This Air
Force pilot training facility, was supplanted in 1940–41 by twelve Elementary Flying Training
Schools (E.F.T.S) and eight Service Flying Training Schools (S.F.T.S).
The E.F.T.S provided a twelve week introductory flying course to personnel who had graduated
from one of the R.A.A.F's Initial Training Schools. Flying training was undertaken in two stages:
the first involved four weeks of instruction (including ten hours of flying) to determine the trainee’s
suitability to become pilots. Those that passed this grading process then received a further eight
weeks of training (including sixty-five hours of flying) at the E.F.T.S