Donald S. Bryan

Donald Septimus Bryan (August 15, 1921 – May 15, 2012) was an American flying ace in World War II, who was credited with 13 aerial victories while serving with the 352d Fighter Group.

Early life Bryan was born on 1921, to Ellis and Ethel Birdsall Bryan, and was raised on a farm near Paicines, California.

Military career On January 6, 1942, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field in Arizona, on July 26, 1942.

World War II After the completion of his pilot training, Bryan completed P-40 Warhawk transition training from July to October 1942 and was assigned as a P-40 pilot with the 304th Fighter Squadron of the 337th Fighter Group in Florida, from October 1942 to March 1943.

Flying the P-47, Bryan was credited with a shared aerial victory on January 29, 1944, when he and his wingman shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 while en route to Namur, Belgium. On January 30, he shot down a Fw 190 over Emmen, Netherlands, his first solo aerial victory. On February 20, he and two of his wingmen were credited with the shared destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110. Bryan scored down his second and third aerial victories on February 24 and March 15, 1944, and scored another shared aerial victory on April 10, 1944. On April 18, 1944, he led a successful mission to find and rescue a fellow fighter pilot, who was forced to ditch in the North Sea on April 15.

On August 9, 1944, he returned to his unit, which by this time converted to the North American P-51 Mustangs. On September 27, 1944, he scored his first aerial victories in the P-51, when he shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109s and damaged another Bf 109 at north of Frankfurt.

During the Battle of the Bulge, which started on December 16, the 352nd FG was moved forward to airfield Y-29 near Asch, Belgium. On December 21, he damaged an Arado Ar 234 jet bomber and on December 23, he shot a Fw 190 over Liège. In January 1945, he was appointed as commander of the 328th Fighter Squadron. He scored his 13th and last aerial victory of the war, when he chased and shot down an Ar 234 over Germany on March 14, 1945, after encountering it during a bomber escort.

Bryan died on May 15, 2012, at the age of 90. He was buried at the Christ Episcopal Church Urn Garden in Valdosta, Georgia.

Aerial victory credits SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and honors His awards include: 150px U.S. Air Force Command Pilot BadgeDistinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Medal (second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing)American Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with silver and bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medal with service starAir Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters A replica of his P-51D "Little One III" is on display at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia. The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Lowndes High School named its academic honor society in his honor.

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Bryan, Donald S. Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces 328th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, 5th Air Force Date of Action: November 2, 1944

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Donald Septimus Bryan, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, during a bomber escort mission over Germany, on 2 November 1944. On this date, Captain Bryan was leading his flight in escort to our heavy bombers when he observed a formation of approximately fifty enemy aircraft coming in to attack the bombers. Captain Bryan led his flight into the center of the attacking formation of enemy aircraft where he closed on one and hit it several times. He was now alone and in the midst of many enemy aircraft who were unusually aggressive and attacking vigorously. Captain Bryan made a pass from a stern at eight ME-109s and shot two down in flames and damaged another. He continued to fight with the enemy, being simultaneously attacked himself. He finally destroyed five enemy aircraft and damaged two others, having engaged the last enemy with but a single gun operating. His courage and outstanding aggressiveness in the presence of great danger were exemplary of the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.