tdogchristy90 Posted September 22, 2020 Share #1 Posted September 22, 2020 As an FSU graduate, I work with the WW2 Collection at FSU from time to time. I had the privilege to work with their PH’s and dig into their stories. Due to the historical significance of this particular Heart, I thought I’d share it. Thanks to the FSU WW2 collection... James M. Ryan was born February 3, 1925 to Thomas and Marion Ryan of Binghamton, New York. Ryan was one of three brothers who all served in the United States Armed Services during World War Two. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 26, 1943 and became a crew member on a B-24 bomber as one of the final replacement crews for the 494th Bombardment Group, 866th Bomber Squadron, 7th Air Force. As part of this replacement crew, Ryan was sent to the Pacific Theater in April 1945. After flying a few training missions in the Carolina Islands of the South Pacific, Ryan and his crew were transported to the Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. Once on Okinawa, the bombers could target mainland Japan. The 494th Bombardment Group became the first B-24s to fly bombing missions against the Japanese Islands on July 5, 1945. Crew 42B, the designation given to Ryan’s replacement crew, flew their first B-24 bombing mission on July 17, 1945, targeting Chang Wan airfield in Shanghai, China. For their second mission, Crew 42B attacked the Japanese Battleship Haruna near Kure Harbor, Hiroshima, Japan. On July 28, 1945, Ryan, as bombardier, along with the rest of his crew, climbed into the B-24 44-40680 nicknamed “Lonesome Lady.” Over 30 B-24s took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on July 28, 1945 and headed for Kure Harbor to attack the Japanese Battleship Haruna. As they approached the harbor, they spotted the Japanese battleship and released their bombs on target. Anti-aircraft defenses opened up on the formation and flak tore into the Lonesome Lady. Cartwright, the pilot, lost control of the aircraft as one of its engines caught on fire. The crew of Lonesome Lady was told to bail out as the aircraft crashed into a field near Ikachi, Japan. After bailing out of the aircraft, most of the crew, including Ryan, were rounded up and sent to Chugoku Military Police Headquarters and held as Prisoners of War. Chugoku Military Police Headquarters was roughly 1,300 feet away from the epicenter of the atomic blast. Bombardier-2nd Lt. James M. Ryan, a Prisoner of War in Hiroshima, was killed in the atomic blast on August 6, 1945. He was 20 years old and is buried with some of his fellow crew members at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Pilot-2nd Lt. Thomas C. Cartwright - POW of the Japanese, survived the war, died in 2015. Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Durden W. Looper - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Navigator-2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr.-KIA, killed when his chute failed to open, July 28, 1945. Radio Operator-Sgt. Hugh H. Atkinson - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Tail Gunner-SSgt. William E. Abel - POW of the Japanese, survived the war, died in 2006. Engineer-Sgt. Buford J. Ellison - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Nose Turret-Cpl. John A. Long, Jr. - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Ball Turret Gunner-SSgt. Ralph J. Neal - POW, died from radiation poisoning, August 19, 1945. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdragon54 Posted September 22, 2020 Share #2 Posted September 22, 2020 I never knew...thanks for sharingSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 26, 2020 Share #3 Posted September 26, 2020 Thanks for sharing this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted September 26, 2020 Share #4 Posted September 26, 2020 Thank you for sharing this. Apparently, this is not a well known piece of history but certainly should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddyboots Posted September 26, 2020 Share #5 Posted September 26, 2020 I have never heard about this. Thanks for sharing this and would l would love to learn more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 26, 2020 Share #6 Posted September 26, 2020 Incredible piece of history. Such an incredibly sad story as well. Thank you so much for sharing. -JimmySent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timberwolf Posted October 16, 2020 Share #7 Posted October 16, 2020 What an incredible rare and poignant heart. Never knew about this, thanks for sharing for all to see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted October 16, 2020 Share #8 Posted October 16, 2020 Wow, I didn't know about this either. Thanks for sharing. Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B24AT6 Posted October 21, 2020 Share #9 Posted October 21, 2020 I don't really have much to add beyond what has already been said, but I have to say even as a UF grad I am happy to see FSU taking care of important stories like James Ryan. Even a Gator in this case will say Go Seminoles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJ Posted December 6, 2020 Share #10 Posted December 6, 2020 Another FSU grad here, and thanks for posting this remarkable story. Go Noles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper1873 Posted January 12, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 12, 2021 Wow! That is a great story. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdogchristy90 Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted February 5, 2021 Update on this one...thanks for the love, guys. *Without a witness, they just disappear* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luft Posted March 31, 2021 Share #13 Posted March 31, 2021 Wow! thanks for sharing this remarkable story! T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper1873 Posted April 2, 2021 Share #14 Posted April 2, 2021 On 9/22/2020 at 1:16 PM, tdogchristy90 said: As an FSU graduate, I work with the WW2 Collection at FSU from time to time. I had the privilege to work with their PH’s and dig into their stories. Due to the historical significance of this particular Heart, I thought I’d share it. Thanks to the FSU WW2 collection... James M. Ryan was born February 3, 1925 to Thomas and Marion Ryan of Binghamton, New York. Ryan was one of three brothers who all served in the United States Armed Services during World War Two. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 26, 1943 and became a crew member on a B-24 bomber as one of the final replacement crews for the 494th Bombardment Group, 866th Bomber Squadron, 7th Air Force. As part of this replacement crew, Ryan was sent to the Pacific Theater in April 1945. After flying a few training missions in the Carolina Islands of the South Pacific, Ryan and his crew were transported to the Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. Once on Okinawa, the bombers could target mainland Japan. The 494th Bombardment Group became the first B-24s to fly bombing missions against the Japanese Islands on July 5, 1945. Crew 42B, the designation given to Ryan’s replacement crew, flew their first B-24 bombing mission on July 17, 1945, targeting Chang Wan airfield in Shanghai, China. For their second mission, Crew 42B attacked the Japanese Battleship Haruna near Kure Harbor, Hiroshima, Japan. On July 28, 1945, Ryan, as bombardier, along with the rest of his crew, climbed into the B-24 44-40680 nicknamed “Lonesome Lady.” Over 30 B-24s took off from Yontan Airfield, Okinawa on July 28, 1945 and headed for Kure Harbor to attack the Japanese Battleship Haruna. As they approached the harbor, they spotted the Japanese battleship and released their bombs on target. Anti-aircraft defenses opened up on the formation and flak tore into the Lonesome Lady. Cartwright, the pilot, lost control of the aircraft as one of its engines caught on fire. The crew of Lonesome Lady was told to bail out as the aircraft crashed into a field near Ikachi, Japan. After bailing out of the aircraft, most of the crew, including Ryan, were rounded up and sent to Chugoku Military Police Headquarters and held as Prisoners of War. Chugoku Military Police Headquarters was roughly 1,300 feet away from the epicenter of the atomic blast. Bombardier-2nd Lt. James M. Ryan, a Prisoner of War in Hiroshima, was killed in the atomic blast on August 6, 1945. He was 20 years old and is buried with some of his fellow crew members at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Pilot-2nd Lt. Thomas C. Cartwright - POW of the Japanese, survived the war, died in 2015. Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Durden W. Looper - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Navigator-2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr.-KIA, killed when his chute failed to open, July 28, 1945. Radio Operator-Sgt. Hugh H. Atkinson - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Tail Gunner-SSgt. William E. Abel - POW of the Japanese, survived the war, died in 2006. Engineer-Sgt. Buford J. Ellison - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Nose Turret-Cpl. John A. Long, Jr. - POW, killed in the atomic blast, August 6, 1945. Ball Turret Gunner-SSgt. Ralph J. Neal - POW, died from radiation poisoning, August 19, 1945. ... Wow wow wow. What a great piece of history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian R Posted July 7, 2021 Share #15 Posted July 7, 2021 On 10/15/2020 at 8:49 PM, Timberwolf said: What an incredible rare and poignant heart. Never knew about this, thanks for sharing for all to see! Indeed. This is yet another example of the tragedy of war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 7, 2021 Share #16 Posted July 7, 2021 I too never knew this. Why do they have a collection of PHs at FSU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdogchristy90 Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted July 7, 2021 26 minutes ago, manayunkman said: I too never knew this. Why do they have a collection of PHs at FSU? It’s not just PHs, but a general archive. I just gravitated towards the KIA guys while working on a memorial project for the archive. It’s part of the archive at FSU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 7, 2021 Share #18 Posted July 7, 2021 How many KIA hearts do they have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdogchristy90 Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted July 7, 2021 16 minutes ago, manayunkman said: How many KIA hearts do they have? Of the ones I was able to dig up for the project, about a dozen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 7, 2021 Share #20 Posted July 7, 2021 That’s amazing that these items were given to the University. Im glad you are able to share this extremely rare piece. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonT Posted July 10, 2021 Share #21 Posted July 10, 2021 Thanks for sharing! I believe there was a documentary made a couple years ago about the 12 Americans killed in Hiroshima. "Paper Lanterns" I think was the name of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militariaone Posted July 10, 2021 Share #22 Posted July 10, 2021 Here is a picture of the crew of the Lonesome Lady. From ancestry.com. James is standing on the far left side. Crews' names can be read where handwritten. Best, V/r Lance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Kibler Posted September 15, 2021 Share #23 Posted September 15, 2021 Stunning group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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