Edward F. Ryan, Jr. was born on April 3, 1917 in New York. He resided in New York County, New York prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 30, 1942 in New York City, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Salesperson and also as Single, without dependents. Edward served as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on B-24J "Maxwell House II" #43-73245, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #43-73245 took off on November 27, 1943 from Pandaveswar Airfield, India on a bombing mission over Insein, Myanmar (Burma). They were attacked by Japanese fighter planes which damaged their engines and the B-24 crashed approximately 150 miles northwest of Rangoon, Myanmar (Burma). At least eight parachutes were seen during bailout. Those who were able to bail out included 2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, Sgt McClung, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Rich, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples.

Before reaching the ground, five of the crew were reportedly either shot while parachuting down or killed once they hit the ground. They included Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples. 2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt McClung, and 2nd Lt Rich were all captured and taken to the Rangoon POW camp in Myanmar (Burma). Sgt Pero, 2nd Lt Ryan, and S/Sgt Smeal where either killed while still in flight or were killed in the crash.

Edward was "Killed In Action" on this mission. He is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Historical Note: The Japanese Army "did not" report that they had a prison camp at Rangoon to the U.S. Military until after the war.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com