2nd Lt. James M. Ryan, Bombardier, Lonesome Lady
Crew 42B, 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomb Group
James M. Ryan was the bombardier of Replacement Crew #42B, which flew the Lonesome Lady on 28 July, 1945 to bomb the Battleship Haruna. From Binghamton, New York, he was one of American POWs who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The crew called him Jim, as did his mother, or sometimes Jimmy. His two brother also served in WWII, and his father, Thomas, served in WWI, the “War to end all wars”.
Jim was eager to serve his country and his parents promised him that he could sign up after he received his high school diploma. He was assigned to one of the final B-24 combat replacement crews in the Pacific Ocean Areas on 7 May, 1945. Upon learning of his death in Hiroshima, his mother, Marion, was catatonic. More than 30 years later, she wept in grief over the loss of her youngest son.
The crew of the Lonesome Lady was fond of Jim. Long after the war, the grandaughter of one his crew mates told a story of how the mothers of the crew corresponded by mail, hoping to hear good news from each other. Jim’s mother was pleased to learn that Jim would “date night” babysit for his friend Hugh Atkinson, whose daughter was then just two years old.
Members of the family of 2nd Lt. James Ryan: Father Thomas and mother Marion, in front of their home in September, 1944. All three of the sons served in the military. Mother, Marion, after learning that James was missing in action, repeatedly called radio stations asking for news information on his whereabouts.
2nd Lt. James Ryan (left) and his elder brother Francis; taken in Saipan, when they met just two months before the death of James.
Condolences sent from General Douglas McArthur in 1946. The Ryans were the only family to receive this letter.
Members of the family of 2nd Lt. James Ryan's brother, Francis..