An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 29 again. The people now began to realize that something was wrong and scattered in all directions. The pilot attempted to land, but the aircraft nose-dived, briefly rose again and ap- peared to break in two before landing with a terrific crash. The pilot was found dead under the ma- chine and the gun- ner/observer died soon afterwards. Lt M. J Ryan and his brother Lt T. A Ryan (see below), were both graduates of the 12th Cadet Class (1938 – 1939). Lt Michael Ryan graduated as a pilot with the Air Corps, receiving his 'wings' as a member of the Short Service Class of 1939. The press reports noted that he had four siblings – Philip, William, Richard, and Thomas – all serving with the Defence Forces. Pte Patrick Power, from Kilbride, about two miles from Tramore, Co. Waterford, had twelve months' service. Lt Thomas A. Ryan and Sgt J. McElligott drowned at Fermoy, Co. Cork, during Army manoeuvres, Sunday, 6 September 1942. While hundreds of spectators were witnessing the engagement of the 'Blue' and 'Red' Armies in the biggest manoeuvres yet held in the country, in the vicinity of Fermoy Bridge at midday on Sunday last, a grim tragedy was being enacted in the River Blackwater beneath, two soldiers, Lieut Thos. A. Ryan, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, and Sgt J. McElligott, Rathea, Listowel, Co. Kerry, losing their lives. (The Kerryman, 12 September 1942). The army authorities decided that the time was ripe, in Sep- tember 1942, to put the forces to the test by holding the biggest wargames, involving some 20,000 personnel that the country had ever seen. Starting on 6 September, the second exercise, the attack on the line of the Blackwater from the northern bank, was sched- uled to be held. The assumption was that Fermoy Bridge (which was heavily mined during the Emergency to deny it to a potential enemy) had been destroyed. The troops would have to cross the deep, swiftly flowing river with its treacherous currents, by line. Shortly after noon on Sunday, 6 September, watched by hun- dreds of townspeople, a detachment of soldiers entered the water on the south bank near Fermoy Rowing Club boathouse, holding onto a line that had been stretched across the river. Sgt McElligott (30), a married man, was seen to get into difficulties, and a local man, James Coleman immediately dived in and went to his aid. The rescuer however, got into difficulties himself and, sadly, had to release his hold on the soldier, who disappeared from view. Lt Ryan (22) had nearly reached the northern bank when he also went under. In the initial confusion over the first drowning it was not realized that Lt Ryan was also in trouble. Sadly, in all, the river claimed four lives during the 'Crossing of the Blackwater' manoeuvres. On the previous Tuesday evening, Cpl Charles O'Donoghue and Pte Peter McGovern were drowned while bathing, some twenty miles apart. Capt William J. Ryan (36), Irish Air Corps, killed when his Super- marine Seafire aircraft crashed in the Wicklow mountains, Monday, 28 May 1951. The Irish Press for Tuesday, 29 May 1951 carried the unhappy news that: An Army Air Corps fighter-plane is missing. Piloted on a patrol flight by Capt W. J. (Billy) Ryan from Gormanston over the Wicklow coast area at noon yesterday, and due to return to camp at 3 p.m., it has been posted as overdue. Gormanston reported to GHQ and 'planes from Gormanston and Baldonnel flew out in relays all yester- day evening searching the sea off Dublin and Wicklow, and flying low over the Wicklow mountains. The search is being resumed today. Vickers Supermarine Seafire LFIII (No. 154) was being piloted by Capt Ryan during a 'finger four' formation out of Gormanston when, owing to extremely poor visibility encountered just north of Poulaphouca Lake, the pilots lost sight of one another. In accor- dance with procedure he ordered the flight to break formation. The other three aircraft returned individually to Gormanstown where they learned of the non-return of the flight commander. During the descent, Capt Ryan broke cloud too late to avoid crashing into the mountains above Kilbride, Co. Wicklow, near the military firing ranges. More than 1,200 troops, under the command of Major General Hugo MacNeill, and a USAF American Grumann air-sea rescue aircraft, which flew from Wiesbaden in Germany, joined in the search for the missing aircraft. The Minister for Defence Gen Seán MacEoin and the CoS, Major General Liam Archer visited the search area. The burned-out wreckage, and the pilot's body, were discovered about 6 p.m. on Tuesday 29 May by a ground search party. Capt Ryan, a graduate of the 8th Cadet Class (1934 – 1936), resided in Skerries, Co. Dublin and left a widow and six children. He was described as 'an experienced military pilot, a most popular and competent officer, and a great loss to the squadron'. All three Ryan brothers were laid to rest, with full military hon- ours, in the Rock Cemetery, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Dormit in Pace.

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