2LT Charles Ryan was born on in January 29, 1917 and was from Edmond, Oklahoma. On August 17, 1943 he was the Bombardier on a B-17 “Battle Queen-Peg of my Heart” (42-30315) of the 569thth Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group- “Wittan's Wallopers”, 8th US Air Force flying out of Framlingham (Airfield 153) Airfield on a bombing mission to Regensburg, Germany. Per Missing Aircraft Report (MACR) 391, “Battle Queen” along with another 126 B-17 Bombers escorted by 207 P-47 Fighters took off to bomb the industrial center of Regensburg. The plan for the planes was to turn south after the bombing raid and land in bases in Northern Africa. After the bombing run, “Battle Queen” was damaged by enemy fighters and hit by flak decided to make an emergency landing in Switzerland. The plane landed in a potato field outside the small town of Utzenstorf. The entire crew were taken as “internees” (considered POWs as of 2013) by Switzerland where they spent the rest of the war.

FROM FIND A GRAVEEDMOND — Charles O. Ryan, age 96 of Edmond, OK, passed away on Wednesday, October 10, 2013. Charlie was born on January 29, 1917 in Guthrie, OK. Charlie proudly served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was employed by Dresser Industries for 40 years before retiring in 1984. Charlie is survived by daughter, Phyllis Jones and her husband T. Jones of Horseshoe Bay, TX, Nicholas Vincent; best friend of 17 years, sister Annabelle Garrett of Midwest City, nieces, their spouses and children. Charlie is also survived by special friend Barbara Vincent of Edmond and many other close friends and wonderful neighbors; including Lt. Chris Bridges and Wendy Stover both of Edmond. Charlie was preceded in death by Minnie Uptygraft Ryan, his wife of 34 years, his parents Buck Ryan and Tillie Ryan, and sister Hazel Enger of Vancouver, WA.