Second Lieutenant Leonard Thomas Ryerson, son of Wilson Heath Ryerson and Elizabeth Bentley (Thomas) Ryerson, 112 East Street, Whitinsville, MA., 40 mi SW of Boston. Leonard's father died in 1940. Joined RAFVR (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), shipped overseas, assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF, Transferred to 336FS 4FG 8AF USAAF. Killed in Action (KIA) 26 September 1942. Crashed near Morlaix, France (36 mi ENE of Brest), out of fuel in Spitfire.
The Morlaix Disaster (entire squadron ran out of gas from waiting for the B-17s they were to escort) - 14 aircraft and pilots took off from Great Sampford for Bolthead, Devonshire, landing there at 1230 hours. At 1350 hours and after a very sketchy briefing, 12 aircraft of the Squadron took off together with 401 with orders to make rendezvous with a formation of Fortresses in mid-channel approximately half-way between Bolthead and Morlaix. It is yet doubtful to know what happened, but some Fortresses were seen after 45 minutes flying, during which time the Squadron had probably circled the Bay of Biscay several times. One pilot and aircraft (P/O. Beaty) made the English coast and owing to shortage of petrol crash landed in a small field near Kingsbridge. Judging from his account and what he overheard over the R/T it is probable that the remaining 11 pilots force landed on the Island of Ouissant or on the French mainland. It is known on good authority that 5 pilots are now prisoners of war.
The Morlaix Disaster (entire squadron ran out of gas from waiting for the B-17s they were to escort) - 14 aircraft and pilots took off from Great Sampford for Bolthead, Devonshire, landing there at 1230 hours. At 1350 hours and after a very sketchy briefing, 12 aircraft of the Squadron took off together with 401 with orders to make rendezvous with a formation of Fortresses in mid-channel approximately half-way between Bolthead and Morlaix. It is yet doubtful to know what happened, but some Fortresses were seen after 45 minutes flying, during which time the Squadron had probably circled the Bay of Biscay several times. One pilot and aircraft (P/O. Beaty) made the English coast and owing to shortage of petrol crash landed in a small field near Kingsbridge. Judging from his account and what he overheard over the R/T it is probable that the remaining 11 pilots force landed on the Island of Ouissant or on the French mainland. It is known on good authority that 5 pilots are now prisoners of war.
Second Lieutenant Leonard Thomas Ryerson, son of Wilson Heath Ryerson and Elizabeth Bentley (Thomas) Ryerson, 112 East Street, Whitinsville, MA., 40 mi SW of Boston. Leonard's father died in 1940. Joined RAFVR (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), shipped overseas, assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF, Transferred to 336FS 4FG 8AF USAAF. Killed in Action (KIA) 26 September 1942. Crashed near Morlaix, France (36 mi ENE of Brest), out of fuel in Spitfire.
The Morlaix Disaster (entire squadron ran out of gas from waiting for the B-17s they were to escort) - 14 aircraft and pilots took off from Great Sampford for Bolthead, Devonshire, landing there at 1230 hours. At 1350 hours and after a very sketchy briefing, 12 aircraft of the Squadron took off together with 401 with orders to make rendezvous with a formation of Fortresses in mid-channel approximately half-way between Bolthead and Morlaix. It is yet doubtful to know what happened, but some Fortresses were seen after 45 minutes flying, during which time the Squadron had probably circled the Bay of Biscay several times. One pilot and aircraft (P/O. Beaty) made the English coast and owing to shortage of petrol crash landed in a small field near Kingsbridge. Judging from his account and what he overheard over the R/T it is probable that the remaining 11 pilots force landed on the Island of Ouissant or on the French mainland. It is known on good authority that 5 pilots are now prisoners of war.
The Morlaix Disaster (entire squadron ran out of gas from waiting for the B-17s they were to escort) - 14 aircraft and pilots took off from Great Sampford for Bolthead, Devonshire, landing there at 1230 hours. At 1350 hours and after a very sketchy briefing, 12 aircraft of the Squadron took off together with 401 with orders to make rendezvous with a formation of Fortresses in mid-channel approximately half-way between Bolthead and Morlaix. It is yet doubtful to know what happened, but some Fortresses were seen after 45 minutes flying, during which time the Squadron had probably circled the Bay of Biscay several times. One pilot and aircraft (P/O. Beaty) made the English coast and owing to shortage of petrol crash landed in a small field near Kingsbridge. Judging from his account and what he overheard over the R/T it is probable that the remaining 11 pilots force landed on the Island of Ouissant or on the French mainland. It is known on good authority that 5 pilots are now prisoners of war.
Inscription
2LT 336 FTR SQ 4 FTR GP MASSACHUSETTS
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Massachusetts
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