Subject

Nativity

Text

unknown

Inscription

unknown

Description & History

The new Church of Our Lady at Sunshine was designed by architect, PJ O'Connor in 1940, to replace one destroyed earlier by fire. No record of the memorial window to Kevin Ryan has been found but the Requiem Mass for the repose of the souls of Ryan and another of the same air crew, Corporal Rose, was held at the church on 8 March 1941. The Reverend JP Pierce, RAAF Chaplain at Laverton celebrated the Mass, assisted by Reverend Chaplains J. Costelloe (Xavier College), Morrison and MacNamara. The window, one of a pair with St. John Vianney, was placed alongside the memorial window in honour of Rev. Rydar, who was also present at Flight Officer Ryan's Requiem Mass.

Kevin Francis Ryan, son of John Joseph and Johanna Agnes Ryan, was born 2 April 1917 at Korong Vale near Wedderburn in Central Victoria. After attending Xavier College Ryan became a commercial pilot and later, after several attempts to enlist in Britain, Ryan joined the RAAF on 15 January 1940 at Mascot NSW. Hewas Flying Officer with 8 Squadron that trained in Canberrra before leaving for Malaya in 1940. After the Japanese invaded Malaya the Squadron was relocated to Kota Bharu and continued to fly reconnaisance missions. Flying Officer Ryan's Hudson A16-49 took off on an instrument flight training run on 14 February 1941 and was last seen flying north over Kualasemarnk. It crashed between the islands of Perhentian and Great Redang with the loss of the crew of five: Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Peter RB Barnes, Air Gunner Sergeant AJA Butler, Corporal Campbell and LAC Rose, as well as Ryan. There bodies were never recovered and the men are remembered on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; WWII Nominal Roll; NAA: A705, 163/55/90; Argus, 8 March 1941, p.5; 10 March 1941, p.5; Sunshine Advocate, 15 March 1940, p.1; 10 January 1941, p.1; 13 July 1945, p.1; Sydney Morning Herald, 17 February 1941, p.9; 21 February 1941, p.1,2; http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/all-anniversaries/22664-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-day-ww2-11.html