The Starkville News October 8, 1943
Photographed and donated to http://oktibbehamsgenealogy.org by Mary Whitaker Davis and transcribed by C. L. Herrick

Lt. George Bryan Killed in Action

Flying Fortress Co-pilot Shot Down over Germany in Raid

Word was received Monday from the War Department by Mr. and Mrs. George Bryan that their son, Lt. George M. Bryan, co-pilot of a Flying Fortress was killed in action over Germany August 17. The message was received from the German government through the International Red Cross.

Lt. Bryan was co-piloting a Fortress during the August 17 shuttle raid over Europe and was shot down over Schweinfurt, Germany, by a German ME 109. A bombardier in another Fortress said Lt. Bryan's plane left formation with one or two motors gone. Lt. Bryan had previously been reported missing in action. He was 22 years old.

Lt. Bryan was born in West Point, but had lived in Starkville all his life. He was educated in starkville public schools and attended Mississippi State College for a year and a half. Always an aviation enthusiast, in addition to his college work, he took Civilian Pilot Training and received his civilian's private pilot's license before entering the Army Air Forces.

Lt. Bryan entered the army in January 1942 and took his preflight training at Maxwell Field. He was graduated as a second lieutenant at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia, and after training with a crew in a Flying Fortress, landed in England on June 13, 1943.

Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Jack and Bobby Bryan, both of Starkville.