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The Airmen's Stories - P/O D L RYALLS

 

Derrick Lang Ryalls was born in October 1912 in the Wirral, the son of Richard Ernest and Edith Sophia Ryalls.

He joined the RAF in September 1934 as an Aircrafthand, later applying for pilot training and being selected. He was serving with 29 Squadron at Debden in December 1939 and was posted away in April 1940 to join the Fighter Interception Unit, then forming at Tangmere.

Ryalls was commissioned in September. He may have damaged a Me110 on October 7th, when his Blenheim was attacked by three of them and his gunner, Sergeant EF le Conte fired a burst at one.

He married Joan Winstanley Waine in April 1943 in Darwen, Lancashire.

Ryalls was killed on 26th December 1944, as an Acting Squadron Leader with 219 Squadron, operating from Amiens-Glissy. His Mosquito NF30 MM709 was shot down over Holsbeek in Belgium by a Ju88G-6 of II./NJG 2. Also killed was F/Lt. JB Hampson.

Ryalls was 32 and is buried in Brussels Town Cemetery.

 

Photo courtesy of the family of Sgt. le Conte.

 

Above image courtesy of International Wargraves Photography Project.

 

 

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