John P. Ryan papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0348
Scope and Content
The John P. Ryan collection spans the years 1907-1960, with the bulk of the material falling between 1942-1943. The collection includes Colonel Ryan's correspondence, military service record, photocopies of newspaper clippings, photographs, albums, ephemera and 8 mm movie film. The materials have been divided into seven series: Correspondence, Military service record, Publications, Photographs, Albums, Ephemera, and Movie film. Included is communication between Colonel Ryan and members of the community, concerned parents of soldiers, military members, his children, and the movie industry. The correspondents include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mamie Eisenhower, Reverend E.J. McCorkell of the Basilian Fathers of Toronto, Canada, Major General Ralph Royce, General Curtis LeMay, New Mexico Governor John J. Dempsey, and Brigadier General Martin F. Scanlon.
Publications include newspaper clippings, The Quill, Bombardier, The Bombsight, The Sunday Sun Magazine, Arlington National Cemetery pamphlet, and the Industrial College Alumni Association Roster of Officers in the Washington Area.
Contained within the collection are original photographs, slides, and scrapbooks, as well as images of actors, crashed airplanes, ceremonies, dinners, individual persons, and groups of people, trips, military training, and family.
Publications include newspaper clippings, The Quill, Bombardier, The Bombsight, The Sunday Sun Magazine, Arlington National Cemetery pamphlet, and the Industrial College Alumni Association Roster of Officers in the Washington Area.
Contained within the collection are original photographs, slides, and scrapbooks, as well as images of actors, crashed airplanes, ceremonies, dinners, individual persons, and groups of people, trips, military training, and family.
Dates
- 1907 - 1960
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Biography
. a retired Air Force officer was born in the old family home in Baltimore, Maryland in 1905. first attended St. Charles College to become a priest. He later decided on a medical career and studied at the Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College, and the University of Maryland. In 1928, during a break in his studies, he changed his mind on a career again and enlisted as a private in the Army Air Force at Brooks Field, Texas. He became a second lieutenant the next year, and had a distinguished career in flying. was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1929, appointed a first lieutenant in 1935, captain in 1940, major in 1941, and lieutenant colonel in February 1942, colonel in August 1942. 1 married on December 26, 1930. 2
He was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground from 1932 to 1935, where he did pioneer work on the Norden Bomb Sight that made possible high altitude precision bombing. He gained recognition of one of the foremost aerial bombing authorities in the world, and as a result, has been called the "father of modern bombing." also made another successful fight in the service. He believed that bombardiers rated commissions. Before took up the cause, bombardiers usually held the rank of sergeant. felt that it was unbecoming for a sergeant to be directing the commanding officer of a bomber in the approach to a target. He won his battle to have bombardiers commissioned as officers. He later served at Nichols Field, Philippines, Maxwell Field, Alabama, and Barksdale Field, Louisiana. 3
In 1930, while still a lieutenant survived a strange accident. While stationed with the Second Bombardment Group of the United States Army he was co-piloting a big bomber on a practice flight over northern Indiana. He had started out in his light summer clothes but his group of planes went so high that he started to feel cold. He told the co-pilot he was going to get a sweater and undid his safety belt and his parachute. Then he stepped down into the bomb bay where he stood up to put on his sweater. The bomb bay was open at the top for a machine gun mount and Ryan saw only sky above him. Suddenly the plane struck a downdraft, which dropped the plane from under him. For a second he was suspended in midair but managed to grasp the top of the windshield and pull himself back into the cockpit. A foot was injured when a propeller hit it and his arms and shoulders were badly strained. 4
In 1942, while director of the bombardier cadet training school at Kirtland Field in New Mexico, RKO Radio pictures produced a movie depicting 's life. Actor Pat O'Brien played the part of in the film "Bombardier," which also starred Randolph Scott, Eddie Albert, and Anne Shirley. 5 In 1943, became the commanding officer of Carlsbad Army Air Field, where he developed the largest school of its kind. In late 1944, he was transferred to the Deming Army Air Field where he became its commanding officer. 6 was a personal friend of Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and Jimmy Doolittle. After a long and illustrious career, retired from the United States Air Force in the 1950s, and died on July 13, 1960. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
1. Catholic Review, 30 October 1942.
2. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 26 December 1930.
3. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
4. The American Weekly, 20 August 1944. See also The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
5. GI, 29 September 1944. See also San Antonio Evening News (San Antonio, TX), 19 May 1943.
6. The Daily Current-Argus (Carlsbad, NM), 22 September 1944.
He was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground from 1932 to 1935, where he did pioneer work on the Norden Bomb Sight that made possible high altitude precision bombing. He gained recognition of one of the foremost aerial bombing authorities in the world, and as a result, has been called the "father of modern bombing." also made another successful fight in the service. He believed that bombardiers rated commissions. Before took up the cause, bombardiers usually held the rank of sergeant. felt that it was unbecoming for a sergeant to be directing the commanding officer of a bomber in the approach to a target. He won his battle to have bombardiers commissioned as officers. He later served at Nichols Field, Philippines, Maxwell Field, Alabama, and Barksdale Field, Louisiana. 3
In 1930, while still a lieutenant survived a strange accident. While stationed with the Second Bombardment Group of the United States Army he was co-piloting a big bomber on a practice flight over northern Indiana. He had started out in his light summer clothes but his group of planes went so high that he started to feel cold. He told the co-pilot he was going to get a sweater and undid his safety belt and his parachute. Then he stepped down into the bomb bay where he stood up to put on his sweater. The bomb bay was open at the top for a machine gun mount and Ryan saw only sky above him. Suddenly the plane struck a downdraft, which dropped the plane from under him. For a second he was suspended in midair but managed to grasp the top of the windshield and pull himself back into the cockpit. A foot was injured when a propeller hit it and his arms and shoulders were badly strained. 4
In 1942, while director of the bombardier cadet training school at Kirtland Field in New Mexico, RKO Radio pictures produced a movie depicting 's life. Actor Pat O'Brien played the part of in the film "Bombardier," which also starred Randolph Scott, Eddie Albert, and Anne Shirley. 5 In 1943, became the commanding officer of Carlsbad Army Air Field, where he developed the largest school of its kind. In late 1944, he was transferred to the Deming Army Air Field where he became its commanding officer. 6 was a personal friend of Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and Jimmy Doolittle. After a long and illustrious career, retired from the United States Air Force in the 1950s, and died on July 13, 1960. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
1. Catholic Review, 30 October 1942.
2. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 26 December 1930.
3. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
4. The American Weekly, 20 August 1944. See also The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
5. GI, 29 September 1944. See also San Antonio Evening News (San Antonio, TX), 19 May 1943.
6. The Daily Current-Argus (Carlsbad, NM), 22 September 1944.
Extent
2.8 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The John P. Ryan manuscript collection documents the Maryland native's career in the U.S. Army Air Force, as well as his family and personal life.
Acquisition
- RG96-032 Gift of John Ryan
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections Department
- New Mexico State University Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
1. Catholic Review, 30 October 1942.
General
2. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 26 December 1930.
General
3. The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
General
4. The American Weekly, 20 August 1944. See also The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), 15 July 1960.
General
5. GI, 29 September 1944. See also San Antonio Evening News (San Antonio, TX), 19 May 1943.
General
6. The Daily Current-Argus (Carlsbad, NM), 22 September 1944.
- Title
- Guide to the John P. Ryan papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Marvin Steinback
- Date
- 2005
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository