PHILIP H. RYAN, JR., ENS, USN

Philip Ryan, Jr. '55

Date of birth: February 11, 1933

Date of death: August 3, 1956

Age: 23

Lucky Bag

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

PHILIP HENRY RYAN, JR.

Charlottesville, Virginia

It was on July 2, 1951 that this gentleman from Charlottesville first stepped into the System to realize his ambition. His only complaint during four good years was that the Math and Skinny Departments were looking for geniuses instead of prospective naval officers. Thoughts of a good day's gunning and Paris liberty were paramount at all times except when he got too near the rack and became oblivious to everything else (the only real escape, he said). Phil showed his skill in many intramural sports ranging from battalion gymnastics to water polo.

PHILIP HENRY RYAN, JR.

Charlottesville, Virginia

It was on July 2, 1951 that this gentleman from Charlottesville first stepped into the System to realize his ambition. His only complaint during four good years was that the Math and Skinny Departments were looking for geniuses instead of prospective naval officers. Thoughts of a good day's gunning and Paris liberty were paramount at all times except when he got too near the rack and became oblivious to everything else (the only real escape, he said). Phil showed his skill in many intramural sports ranging from battalion gymnastics to water polo.

Loss

Philip was lost on August 3, 1956 when his parachute failed following the collision of his training aircraft with another at Corpus Christi, Texas.

Other Information

From the September 1956 issue of Shipmate:

We are sorry to have to announce the death of PHILIP HENRY RYAN, JR., on 3 August at Corpus Christi, Texas. Phil was a flight student and was killed when his parachute failed to open after the collision of two training planes. He and H. F. Snyder both jumped and Snyder suffered a broken leg. The two occupants of the other plane were also killed. Phil, Sr., is in the Class of 1923.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Philip received a presidential appointment to the Naval Academy in June 1951.
He attended Hilder Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., but graduated from Lane High School in 1951. Key Club 4,5; Photographer for school newspaper; Hi-Y. He resided in Boyd Tavern, Virginia.
In January 1954, the newspaper reported that Philip had killed an 18 pound turkey in Fluvanna County during that year's season.
In late December 1954, Ensign Frederick Campbell joined Philip at his home before they both left in January for Pensacola. Philip graduated from the pre-flight school there on September 30, 1955.
He was then assigned for primary flight training at the Whiting Field Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Milton, Florida.
His father, a Naval Academy graduate (Class of 1923) and Navy lieutenant commander, was an engineering and mathematics teacher at the University of Virginia in the 1950s.

Phil is buried in Virginia.

His ring is on display at the USNA Museum.