The Airmen's Stories - Cpl. B Ryall

Browne Ryall of Redbourn, Hertfordshire was born on 5th January 1916, the son of Arthur Browne Ryall and Beatrice May Ryall.

He joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he did not complete his training but was sent straight to 29 Squadron as an Aircraftsman Radar Operator in June 1940.

Promoted to Corporal in August, Ryall flew 16 operational sorties during the period of the Battle of Britain. He was promoted to Sergeant later and flew his first sortie in a Beaufighter on 22nd November 1940.

During the night of 13th/14th March 1941 Ryall was flying with W/Cdr. SC Widdows when they shot down a Ju88.

On the night of 6th/7th May he was again flying with Widdows in Beaufighter If R2260 when it was badly damaged by a Ju88 that they had intercepted over the Channel. Ryall was ordered to bale out but Widdows was then able to coax the aircraft back to West Malling.

A search was mounted but no trace was found of Ryall.

He was 25 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 51.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.