Anthony Bryan | Chrysler executive, 86

Anthony J.A. Bryan, 86, a decorated World War II pilot who helped recruit Lee Iacocca to run Chrysler Corp., died yesterday at his home in Gulfstream, Fla. The cause was complications related to prostate and bone cancer.

Mr. Bryan served on Chrysler's board from 1978 to 1991, staying on at the request of Iacocca and helping to turn around the company's underfunded pension plan.

He was a board member at Federal Express Corp. for two decades through the 1990s, and served the same role for at least a dozen more companies, including ITT Corp. and PNC Financial Corp., now PNC Financial Services Group.

Mr. Bryan was born in Saltillo, Mexico, to British parents. His early education was in England. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew missions as a Spitfire pilot from a base in southern England.

He was shot down over France before D-Day in 1944. After five months assisting the French Resistance, he was able to rejoin his squadron in Britain and resume flying missions. All told, he flew more than 250 wartime missions.

In recognition of his service, Mr. Bryan received the Distinguished Flying Cross from England's King George VI in 1944.

After the war, he earned an undergraduate degree at Harvard College, then a master's degree in business administration, also from Harvard.

- Bloomberg News