Collections

This collection relates to James M. Ryan who served as a 2nd Lieutenant Bombardier on a B-24 Bomber with the 866th Squadron, 494th Bombardment Group, stationed in Okinawa. Ryan's plane was shot down over Kyoto on July 28, 1945, and he was then imprisoned by the Japanese (declared missing in action by the United States). Ryan subsequently perished 500 feet from the epicenter of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. This collection contains photographs, letters, documents, and artifacts relating to the life, service, and death of James M. Ryan. His cased engraved purple heart medal is included in this collection.

The Wyman Daniel Martin collection contains personal artifacts and ephemera from Martin's time as a middle school student before the outbreak of war and as a dorsal gunner on a B-17 bomber before being killed in action above Holland. These objects include photographs of Martin and the crew of his bomber the "Sky Queen", his various medals which include an engraved Purple Heart, a narrative written by a surviving crewman regarding his final mission, and official documents regarding his internment in Arlington National Cemetary.