Gentlemen, It is my sad duty to inform you that on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, Golden Eagle Emeritus CAPT James W. “Jim” RYAN, USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off in Murrysville, PA, surrounded by family, at the age of 92.
Jim was born 24 December 1932 in Billings, Montana. Growing up in Billings, he attended Billings Senior High School, where he also met his future wife, Marjorie.
After graduation he attended the University of Montana in Missoula for approximately 18 months before leaving to attend to his ill father in Billings. One day while there he saw two Navy aircraft land at the local airport and decided that was what he wanted to do. After completing six months of further college work in Billings, he applied for and was accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program. In March 1954 Jim reported to NAS Pensacola, FL, to begin his flight training, finishing at NAAS Kingsville, TX, after flying the SNJ Texan, T-28 Trojan, TV-2 Shooting Star, and the F9F-2 Panther. Jim earned his Wings of Gold on 16 August 1955 and shortly thereafter married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Marjorie. Jim’s first duty station was to the VF-123 Blue Racers at NAS Miramar, CA, flying the F9F-2, 6, and 8. Assigned to USS Lexington (CV 16), the squadron completed a six-month WestPac deployment aboard Lex in 1956. During his time in VF-123, Jim would twice dead stick an aircraft home. First, in an F9F-2, while on a gunnery sortie over the Chocolate Mountains near Yuma, AZ, the throttle stuck at 100%, forcing him to eventually shut the engine down and dead stick a landing at NAF El Centro, CA. The second event was in an F9F-6 Cougar on a cross-country flight, over Sacramento at 38,000 feet, when the engine had to be shut down due to an overtemp. He successfully dead sticked a landing at Travis AFB, CA.
VF-123 was re-designated to VF-53 and transitioned from the F9F-8 Cougar to the F3H Demon. In late 1958/early 1959 Jim and four other pilots transferred from VF-123 to help form the VF-151Vigilantes at NAS Moffet Field, CA. He completed a WestPac deployment aboard USS Hancock (CVA 19) from August 1959 to January 1960.
Jim’s next duty assignment, later in 1960, was to the VF-121 Pacemakers at NAS Miramar, CA, where he flew the F3H, F3D, F4H Phantom II, and the F9F-8T. With the introduction of the Phantom II to the Fleet in 1961, Jim became one of the first six west coast instructors in the Phantom II. He also had the opportunity to fly the T-38 to evaluate its utility as an aggressor aircraft. Completing his Replacement Air Group (RAG) instructor tour in 1963, Jim joined the VF-21 Freelancers, flying the F-4B. Deployed aboard USS Midway (CVA 41), he completed a peacetime WestPac deployment from November 1963 to March 1964 and a Vietnam War deployment from March–November 1965. Junior War College at Newport, RI, filled the year of 1966, where he stayed current in the C1A Trader. His next assignment from 1966 to 1967 was to U.S. 7th Fleet Saigon Detachment Charlie, tasked with coordination of USAF/Navy air strikes into North Vietnam. He also flew the C1A. Returning home to NAS Miramar in 1967 he joined the staff of CAG-12, flying the A-6 Intruder, F-4, and the TA-4F Skyhawk. Selected for command, in 1969 Jim reported to VF-124, the F-8 Crusader RAG for transition training and subsequently reported to the VF-194 Red Lightnings, flying the F-8J, for his XO/CO tour. During this tour from 1969-1971, Jim completed three combat deployments to Vietnam aboard USS Oriskany (CVA 34), from 16 April–17 November 1969, 14 May–10 December 1970, and 14 May–18 December 1971 — truly a fast-paced operational tempo for all. He assumed command in July 1970 and commanded through July 1971. On his four total Vietnam deployments, Jim flew 221 combat missions.
On completion of his command tour in 1971, Jim attended San Diego State University in the “Boot Strap” program completing his bachelor’s degree. In his spare time, he also instructed with VF-124, training fleet replacement pilots. In 1972 he became the “Air Boss” on USS Constellation (CV 64), stationed in San Diego, CA, completing two WestPac deployments while aboard — and also checked out in the A-7E Corsair II. After his two-year Air Boss tour, Jim attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) in Washington, DC, before reporting to the OPNAV staff, OP 506 in 1975, serving as the air-to-air weapons coordinator for the AIM-7, AIM-9, and AMRAAM.
He also was the OPNAV representative at ACEVAL/AIMVAL air combat evaluations program at Nellis AFB, CA, that eventually led to the requirements generation for the AMRAAM, a team on which Jim served. In August 1978 Jim took command of USS Wabash (AOR-5) based in Alameda, CA. He managed to again fly in the H-46. Of note, while on the one WestPac deployment completed while in command, Wabash rescued some Vietnamese boat people despite guidance to assist but not pick up refugees. Given the condition of the boat Jim elected to pick up the refugees. Thirty-five years later the now 40-year adult who was rescued as a five-year-old went to great lengths to internet search, find and meet Jim in order to thank him for his action — stating his family never would have survived if Wabash had not picked them up. On completion of his successful command tour in January 1980, Jim next reported to CINCPACFLT in Hawaii on the War Plans and Policy section of the staff. In 1981 he was selected to command USS Lexington (CVT 16), home ported in Pensacola, FL, assuming command in December 1981 through June 1983. It seems appropriate that at the twilight of his career he ended up commanding the same ship he flew off of on his first Navy deployment. Once again, he flew in the C1A, and carrier qualified in the TA-4. Jim’s final active-duty tour was as Commanding Officer, Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, FL, where true to form, he remained flying in the TA-4 and the T-2. Jim retired from active duty in January 1985.
In a remarkable career of 30 years, Jim went from NAVCAD to four Commanding Officer tours, flew over 4,700 hours and managed to fly in almost every tour. He had 710 carrier arrested landings, two dead stick landings, and 221 combat missions in Vietnam. His combat awards include two Legions of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, nine Air Medals and two Navy Commendation medals with combat “V.” From the SNJ to the F-4B, he flew almost everything in between, as noted in the paragraphs above. He served his Nation and his Navy well, in a career defined by courage, service and unwavering devotion to his family and country.
After retirement, Jim and Marge remained in Pensacola where Jim became a financial planner. Five years later, in 1990, Jim joined Sabreliner Corporation to manage the Undergraduate Naval Flight Officer Program, supporting the program with 17 T-39 Sabreliners modified with air-to-air and air-to-ground radars. These aircraft were flown by former Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots, and without doubt, Jim probably managed a few hours in the cockpit too. He remained in this position for 8 years before “retiring retiring.” Jim and Marge kept Pensacola as their home base, only moving in the past year to Murrysville, PA, to be near family.
Jim is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marge, his daughter Shellie Davis (Gary) of Jeannette, PA, and his son Mike (Tammy) of Scottsdale, AZ. He was a grandfather to seven grandchildren and a great-grandfather to nine great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by his son Patrick J. Ryan and his sister Sue Ryan.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held later in the year at NAS Pensacola. That information will be provided in a Special Notice when known.
He will be missed. In sadness,
Marty CHANIK Pilot |
