Ryan, John D. (John Dale), 1915-1983

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John Dale Ryan (1915-1983) was the Seventh Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He was born in Cherokee, Iowa, where he graduated from Cherokee Junior College before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated from West Point in 1938, and attended flight schools at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas, receiving his pilot''s wings in 1939. During the early years of World War II, he served as a flight instructor and in training roles at Kelly Field and at Midland Army Air Field, Texas. He also served as Operations Officer for the 2nd Air Force at Colorado Springs, Colorado. In February, 1944, he was deployed to the European Theater, and served in Italy as Commander of the 2nd Bombardment Group, and later as Operations Officer for the 5th Bombardment Wing, 15th Air Force. Upon his return to the U.S., he would again serve briefly at Midland Air Field Deputy Air Base Commander. In April, 1946, he was assigned to the 58th Bombardment Wing, where he participated in the atomic weapons tests at Bikini Atoll. Ryan served in numerous command roles at Air Force bases in Texas and New Mexico. In June, 1956, he was named Director of Materiel for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), and four years later, assumed command of the SAC''s 16th Air Force in Spain. In July, 1961, he was named Commander of the 2nd Air Force at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Beginning in August, 1963, Ryan assumed a series of progressively responsible commands, starting with his appointment as Inspector General of the U.S. Air Force at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. One year later, he was named Vice Commander of the SAC, and later became its Commander in Chief. In February, 1967, he was assigned as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces. He was named Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force in August, 1968, and Chief of Staff in August, 1969. He held the position until his retirement from active duty on August 1, 1973. Ryan was a highly decorated career Air Force officer. Among the numerous distinctions he received were the following: Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force) with three oak leaf clusters; Distinguished Service Medal (Army); Silver Star with oak leaf cluster; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster; Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters; Purple Heart; French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner, 1st Class with Grand Cordon, and 2d Class; Korean National Security Merit First Class; the Vietnamese National Order of Vietnam/Commander and Gallantry Cross with Palm; Grand Cross, Royal Order of Phoenix (Greece); and Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit (Spain). Additional foreign distinctions included the Golden Wings of the Philippine air force; Chilean Military Star of the Armed Forces, Class of Great Star for Military Merit; French Legion of Honor, Degree of Commander; and the Brazilian Order of Aeronautical Merit, Degree of Grand Official. He held honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from both Creighton University and the University of Akron (Ohio). He died on October 27, 1973.

From the description of Ryan, John D. (John Dale), 1915-1983 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10678297

Archival Resources
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referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF STRATOSPHERE FLIGHT, ELLSWORTH AFB AND RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GEN REVES RETIREMENT AND NORAD CHANGE OF COMMAND, PETERSON FIELD, COLOROADO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL RYAN VISITS KADENA AB, OKINAWA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAC CHANGE OF COMMAND, SCOTT AFB, ILLINOIS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AWARDS PRESENTATION National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AIR FORCE ACADEMY CEMETERY DEDICATION, AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. LIEUTENANT GENERAL OLD RETIRES, PROJECT RED CEDAR, MARCH AFB CALIFORNIA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. INTER-AMERICAN JOINT AIR FORCE CHIEFS OF STAFF ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ALBROOK AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND, RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE AND SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, NORTON AIR FORCE BASE, RIVERSIDE AND ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA; NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, INDIAN SPRINGS AIR FORCE BASE, LAS VEGAS AND HOOVER DAM, NEVADA, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VIRGINIA, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Heiliger, Donald L., 1937- ,. Oral history interview with Donald L. Heiliger [sound recording], 1999. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VISITING DIGNITARIES, U-TAPAO AIRFIELD, TAKHLI AB AND KORAT AB, THAILAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VISIT BY GEN JOHN D. RYAN, UDORN RTAFB, THAILAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Coronet Wasp; Kimpo AB, Suwon AB, Osan AB, and Kunsan AB, Korea National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Award to Headquarters CO 51st Signal Batallion, Korea National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Documentaries from the 1361st Photographic Service/Audio Visual Service (PS/AVS), Andrews AFB, Washington DC. 1971 - 1978. Arrival of General Chen I-Fan, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PACAF CONFERENCE, HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND MUSEUM TO NEBRASKA, OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. OLYMPIC ARENA 1973, VANDENBERG AFB, CALIFORNIA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SAC CHANGE OF COMMAND, OFFUTT AFB, NEBRASKA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Combat Fox, Osan AB and Camp Humphreys, Korea National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL RYAN VISITS BIEN HOA AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SAC CHANGE OF COMMAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GEN RYAN VISITS DA NANG AB AND TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. F-111A progress report, Gen Ryan visits Convair, Fort Worth, Texas National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Documentaries from the 1361st Photographic Service/Audio Visual Service (PS/AVS), Andrews AFB, Washington DC. 1971 - 1978. General Holm Ceremony, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GEN JOHN P. MCCONNELL'S RETIREMENT, ANDREWS AFB, MARYLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL WHITE SPACE TROPHY, WASHINGTON, DC National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. CLOSE OUT OF SAC BASES IN UNITED KINGDOM, RAF BRIZE NORTON, ENGLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AFA CONVENTION, DALLAS, TEXAS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MACKAY TROPHY PRESENTATION, PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, DC National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL BROSIO VISIT SAC HEADQUATERS, OFFUTT AFB, NEBRASKA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VISITING DIGNITARIES AT UBON AB, THAILAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL NAZZARO VISITS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, PACIFIC COMMAND, HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL FERGUSON'S RETIREMENT, ANDREWS AFB, MARYLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VICE PRESIDENT HUMPHREY STOPS AT HICKAM AFB, HAWAII National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. F-111 PROGRESS REPORT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE HAROLD BROWN RECEIVES AWARD, PENTAGON National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MacKay Trophy presentation, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Coronet Wasp, Osan AB, Suwon AB, Kimpo AB, and Kunsan AB, Korea National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESENTATION OF SCROLL AND PLAQUE TO SECRETARY ZUCKERT AT USAFA COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GENERAL RYAN VISITS CAM RANH BAY AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. INSTALLATION OF CMSGT OF AIR FORCE, DONALD L. HARLOW, PENTAGON National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SAC OPS PLAN 52-65, GENERAL RYAN AND LIEUTENANT GENERAL WADE VISIT ANDERSON AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VISITING DIGNITARIES AT TAN SON NHUT AB, BIEN HOA AB AND DA NANG AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Heiliger, Donald L., 1937- , person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
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Activity

Person

Birth 1915-12-10

Death 1983-10-27

English

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Ark ID: w60d2t9p

SNAC ID: 46973622