Final bit from me, the citations from his DFC and BAr

Gazetted 19 March 1943

Fl/Off John Michael Bryan 102570 RAFVR No 137 Sqn.

This officer has taken part in a large number of sorties and patrols. On one occasion he assisted in the distruction of a Do 217. In attacks on enemy transport in northern France and Belgium, F/O Bryan has damaged 15 locomotives, his skill and keeness have been worthy of high praise.

Bar to DFC gazetted 27 July 1943

Fl/lt Bryan is a skilful and tenacious pilot, Since being awarded the DFC he has damaged 2 mine sweepers, 3 barges and an E boat. Inaddition he has executed 13 destructive attacks on locomotives. He has also participated in several attacks on enemy airfields. Fl/lt Bryan has displayed high quality of leadership, setting an inspired example.

His promotion to P/O was gazetted on 22 June 1941.

On D Day Bryan was now now Wing Leader of 136 Airfield and led 164 Sqn on a late morning op, strafing trucks and lorries. Late in the afternoon he led 164 to the Bayeux area, finding targets for their rockets – trains, bridges and MT. A number of 190’s tried to bounce the Typhoons, one Typhoon was lost in return one 190 was claimed.

On 8th June Bryan again led 164 Sqn in MN415, they found a number of 109’s in the air which turned and attacked the Typhoons. Bryan claimed two in the ensuing scrap.

Interesting to note that many of 198 Sqn’s op’s were conducted in unison with 609 Sqn, in fact Cheval Lallemant became a flight commander with 198 Sqn. Snapper maybe able to help there with his contacts.

7 th October Bryan and Vaughan Fittall shared a FW190 near Blankenberge, the 190 coming down into a field s/w of Tielt.

He under took his last operation with 198 on 30 Nov 1943 before going on rest, A longe range sweep in support of B17’s making a dep penetration raid into Germany. On this sortie the Sqn caught a number of FW190’s as they came into land at an airfield near Deelan. Four were claimed and one damaged by the Sqn, Bryan getting one of these.

Mike Bryan was CO at 198 Sqn from Aug 1943 to Nov 1943, 198 was one of the first Typhoon squadrons tasked with ground attack duties to the continent, he rejoined 198 in Apr 1944. Prior to 198 it appears that he was with 137 Sqn also on Typhoons may be as a flight commander.

On pg 40 it quotes

Mike Bryan I can only describe as a good bloke and if you know anythng about New Zealanders, you will know that it’s high praise.

Be nice if he would let her appear at lets say Legends before shipping to the States.

I must admit, I watch a couple of the American version of The Office, compared to the UK version I found that it had lost something, Ricky Gervais was the making of The Office.

Wasn’t Men Behaving Badly remade for the US market, but flopped ?

It looks to me as Kermit flies his new restorations for a year or so , and then puts them into his museum as static exhibits. Therefore I don’t have much faith in seeing most of his planes fly in the long run!

T J

I think with the larger aircraft such as the B24, B26, Sunderland etc… It’s more to do with cost, even in the land of cheap fuel.

The Sunderland hasn’t flown since 1996, and when I spoke to Kermit in March he told me it was going to form the centre piece of a display celebrating the great era of the flying boats. It was looking a little tatty when I saw it.