Honoring the Fallen: Cpl. James J. Ryan Jr.

Soon after V-J Day, men who had served with the 3rd Bomb Squadron were finally on their way back home, but members of a six-man aircrew were still listed as missing in action. Cpl. James J. Ryan Jr. had been radio-gunner in the top turret of a rocket-equipped B-25J-2, A/C #722, that went missing on May 16, 1945. It had failed to return from a bombing and strafing raid against the Japanese-held airfield at Ichang. Details of the mission and the fate of its crew were not confirmed until long after the end of hostilities.