Richard W Ryan

Born in Huron County, Ontario on November 11, 1896, Richard W. (Dick) Ryan was raised on the family farm at Nile, Ontario, where he attended a one-room school. In 1916, during his third year at University of Toronto, he enlisted for infantry training in the First World War with the University Officers Overseas Training Corps. In 1917 the Royal Naval Air Service called for 50 volunteers who would receive the rank of sub-lieutenant. Seizing the opportunity, Dick Ryan was soon sailing to Liverpool.

In England, the aspiring aviators were offered the rank of first lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. After basic flying Dick was recommended for training as a fighter pilot, then posted to RFC No. 66 Squadron in France. His squadron acquired the famous Sopwith Camel aircraft and Dick mastered its performance.

In November 1917, the squadron was relocated to Italy to support British infantry. In a formation flight on his first patrol, Dick's aircraft was hit from below by another Sopwith Camel. The two aircraft locked together and began a spiral dive from 10,000 feet. Miraculously, they separated. With no propeller, Dick made a forced landing and survived. Sadly, the other pilot was killed.

Dick was returned to the U.K. and hospitalized for over two months while recovering, then returned to service as a flying instructor. In April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force. Near completion of his tour as an instructor, two all-Canadian squadrons were formed and Dick "was assigned to No. 1 Canadian Squadron of the RAF, but his transfer was delayed. The war ended on November 11, 1918. Waiting for return to Canada, Dick flew various exercises, including seaplane training and ferry flights bringing surrendered German aircraft to England.

Dick graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. degree in 1920. In 1922 he qualified as a high school teacher at Regina Normal School, taught for a year in a small rural school at Grand Coulee, then accepted a teaching position at Ross Collegiate in Moose Jaw in 1922. While there he met Marjorie Brittain, whom he married in August 1924. In 1928 he began instructing with the Moose Jaw Flying Club, part-time during the school year and full-time during summer holidays.

In 1930 Dick and Marjorie became parents with the arrival of their daughter, Beverley, and Dick became the instructor for the flying club, serving as events manager for the first Moose Jaw air show. In 1931 he became manager of the flying club in addition to instructing. In 1932 he received an M.A. degree from the University of Alberta.

Moose Jaw Flying Club formed a commercial air charter company in 1935, Prairie Airways Ltd., with Dick Ryan as a director. Following formation of Trans-Canada Airlines, Prairie Airways was licensed to carry mail and operate feeder flights to Saskatchewan cities not served by TCA. Prairie Airways then needed a full-time manager, hiring Dick Ryan, who resigned from teaching in 1937.

In the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of the Second World War, No. 3 Air Observer School was established in 1941 at Regina. Prairie Airways formed a new operation, Prairie Flying School Ltd., to operate the school and train navigators, with Dick Ryan as manager. The company also operated an aircraft repair facility for the BCATP at Moose Jaw and, at its peak, the plant provided "work for some 900 employees.

In 1940, Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA) purchased ten small airline companies, including Prairie Airways Ltd. CPA also took over the operation of the facility at Moose Jaw and training schools operated by the acquired companies, but not No. 3 AOS, where Ryan remained as manager. He also acted as superintendent of the Saskatchewan district of Canadian Pacific Air Lines, with C.H. 'Punch' Dickins as general manager.

In 1943, No. 3 AOS was closed. Ryan was then appointed supervisor of operations for western lines of CPA. He toured western operations and recommended that CPA drop its bush operations and build a scheduled airline service. A month later, he was appointed as General Superintendent of western lines.

In 1945 CPA began converting surplus Douglas Dakota DC-3 aircraft for passenger service in western and northern Canada. In 1946 Dick was appointed general manager of operations and in 1947 Grant McConachie, who was instrumental in formation of the company, was appointed as president. By 1948, CPA planned to extend services across the Pacific and needed larger and faster aircraft with longer range, ordering Canadair North Star aircraft for those flights.

With increasing operations in Montreal, Dick was made Executive Assistant to the president. DC-3 service was now offered in Quebec, but as most operations were in the west with service to the Pacific from Vancouver, company headquarters were relocated there. Dick was involved with service to new destinations as larger aircraft were put into service, including Douglas DC-6B models.

In 1951 he was appointed by Grant McConachie as Vice-President. In the 1950s, international service expanded from Canada to Mexico City and South America. European cities were added to nights, but CPAL could still not provide cross-country service in Canada, as that privilege was held by the government-owned monopoly, Trans-Canada Airlines.

In July 1956, Dick Ryan became Executive Vice-president and was seated on the board of directors. In 1957, he was elected as president of the Air Industry Transport Association of Canada. In 1959, CPAL was allowed to operate one transcontinental flight per day using Bristol Brittania turboprop aircraft and entered the jet age in 1961 with the purchase of its first four-engine Douglas DC8-43 aircraft.

At the end of 1961, Dick reached retirement age, reluctantly leaving Canadian Pacific Air Lines, but continued as a member of the board until 1965. He and Marjorie enjoyed many good retirement years of golf, curling, bridge and other activities with friends and family. In 1982 he published his autobiography, "From Boxkite to Boardroom".

Dick Ryan died on November 17, 1992 at his home in Penticton, British Columbia, predeceased by Marjorie in 1984, survived by their daughter, Beverley. His life in aviation saw him participate in its development as a pilot, an instructor, manager and airline executive member for nearly half a century, from the time of primitive biplanes to the age of jet-propelled airliners.

Dick Ryan was inducted as Member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame on May 26, 2011 at a ceremony held in Hamilton, Ontario.