Page 8 - John Francis Ryan

The purpose of John flying with this experienced squadron pilot as ʻSecond Dickieʼ was to give
him insight as to how an operation unfolded and prepare John for his forthcoming tour of 30
operations which he and his crew were facing. At this point of the war anti-aircraft fire from
German batteries was not as intense as in previous months, due to the German supply network
being disrupted by these Allied air attacks. No.1 Group Operational Record Book indicates that
anti-aircraft fire was slight with no fighter opposition. Main Force crews that day were protected by
Allied fighters in strength covering the bomber stream from above.
Such was the strategic power of Bomber Command it having at this stage of the war a strength of
over 1,500 Heavy Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax bombers with
108 operational squadrons.

The crew, now John had undertaken this first operation were ready to be put to the test.
This crew unfortunately would not complete their full 30 operational tour.

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

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12 March 1945 - Lancaster RA 563 Q-Queen2 - Dortmund - Area Bombing
15/16 March 1945 - Lancaster RA 563 Q-Queen2 - Misburg - Synthetic Oil Production
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16/17 March 1945 - Lancaster PA265 O-Oboe2 – Nüremburg (Nürnberg) - Area Bombing
(The crew failed to return from this operation)

Research on the crews fate points to the Lancaster being shot down by a German night fighter
as the bomber stream approached Nüremburg on that Friday evening.
Between 21-03pm and 21-43pm (All times are UK time) night fighters from the Luftwaffe’s
NJG2 and 6 (Nachtjagdgeschwader), (night fighter-wing) infiltrated the bomber stream and
claimed 32 to 34 Lancasters shot down. In fact, only 24 were downed with another 2 receiving
extensive damage to render the Lancasters, after landing back at their base being written off.

The situation between Stuttgart and Nüremburg was therefore confused with multiple crashed
Lancasters on fire scattered along the bomber stream route as it approached its target.
The Luftwaffe crews on intercepting the bomber stream were instructed to fire off
green flares to indicate to other night fighter crews where the bomber stream was, the bomber
stream was also illuminated by parachute flares.
Flight Sergeant John Ryan Lancaster crashed 15.5 miles South East of Crailshelm at about
21-24pm. There are three Luftwaffe night pilots who could have shot down John.

Feldwebel (Sergeant) Emil Weinmann of 1./NJG6

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer) Erich Jung of 5./NJG2

Feldwebel (Sergeant) Günter Bahr of 1./NJG6

It is not possible to pinpoint exactly who shot John down that night with any accuracy due to the
Luftwaffe pilots not radioing in their positions to their respective controllers. If this procedure
had been undertaken then a position fix on the night fighter could have been accomplished by
radio triangulation and that claim confirmed.