Page 11 - John Francis Ryan

The other squadron loss that night was Flight Lieutenant Frank Dotton R.C.A.F and his crew.
Frank Dotton had joined the squadron in November 1944, his first operation as a second pilot on
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11 November to Dortmund. This crew were on their 23 operation, just seven more to do then
screened, their war over when they perished. It is suggested that the reason for this loss was a
collision with a German night fighter flown by Major Gerhard Friedrich in the region of Stuttgart at
21-03pm. It has also been reported that Friedrich could have attacked PB785 with upward firing
cannon from underneath and the bomber exploded taking the night fighter with it.
Friedrich and his crew were flying Ju 88 G-6 (W.Nr. 621801) serial No. 2Z+LB and he was
credited with 33 victories. All his victories were recorded at night. As there were no survivors from
either crew it is impossible to say exactly what happened.

Frank, holding the rank of Flight Lieutenant must have been in the air force for some years
previously, he being held back in a training establishment, training novice pilots and gaining
promotion there.

Many thanks to David Fell for the information on Frank Dotton.

Flight Lieutenant Frank Dotton R.C.A.F

During training John, Peter Sattler and Leslie Richardson had agreed a pact that if any of them did
not survive their 30 operations then the survivors would tell the families what had happened. This
pact being extended to John’s crew at squadron. Post war, Leslie Richardson went to see John’s
Father and daughter Eileen Margaret (Ellie), informing them of the circumstances of John’s death
Rolls of Honour shows John and his crew were the second to last crew that the squadron lost on
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operations before Germany surrendered on May 8 1945.

In 1968 one of John’s Sisters, Mrs Cecilia Mary Scarrott obtained John’s medals from the
Australian Government. These medals, awarded posthumously from a grateful Nation are the
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service
Medal 1939-45.

All of them Bomber Command Lions

The Webmasters would like to thank Susan Goss Waltho, daughter of Eileen Margaret Ryan,
John’s Sister for the biography content.

© Sue Goss Waltho