Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne

Patrick Anthony Langan Byrne
Born 1895
Clogherhead, County Louth, Ireland
Died 16 October 1916 (aged 20–21)
Commemorated at Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1914–1916
Rank Second Lieutenant
Unit 30th Brigade, RFA
No. 24 Squadron RFC
Battles/wars World War I
 • Western Front
Awards Distinguished Service Order

Second Lieutenant Patrick Anthony Langan Byrne DSO (1895 – 16 October 1916) was an Irish flying ace of the First World War credited with ten aerial victories.[1]

Early life and education

Byrne was born in Clogherhead, Co. Louth, the son of Dr. and Mrs. J. V. Byrne.[2] He was educated at Clongowes.[3]

World War I

Byrne was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 9 October 1914,[4] serving in 129th Battery, 30th Brigade.[2] He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he was appointed a flying officer on 4 August 1916.[5]

Byrne began his victories on 31 August 1916, when he used Airco DH.2 No. 6011 to force an enemy aircraft to land. Three days later, he drove a German fighter aircraft down out of control for his second win. On 15 September, he switched to DH.2 No. 7911 and shot down another German fighter in flames. The next day, Byrne destroyed a Fokker D.II. Then, between 21 and 28 September, he ran off a string of five "forced to land" victories. He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 14 October[6] just prior to his last victory on the morning of 16 October. That afternoon he was airborne for his second sortie of the day. He led "B" Flight right for Oswald Boelcke, commander of Jasta 2, who promptly killed him for his 34th victory. Byrne's grave site is unknown, though it is known he was buried.[1][7] His Officer Commanding, Major Lanoe Hawker, lamented, "He was such a nice lad, as well as the best officer I have ever met."[8] As a flying casualty of the Western Front with no known grave he is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.[2]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.		 Opponent Result Location
1 31 August 1916
@ c.1800 		DH.2
(6010) 		Enemy aircraft Forced to land North of Bapaume
2 2 September 1916
@ 1935 		DH.2
(6010) 		Single-seat fighter Out of control Beaulencourt
3 15 September 1916
@ 0830 		DH.2
(7911) 		Single-seat fighter Destroyed in flames North-east of Morval
4 16 September 1916
@ 1900 		DH.2
(7911) 		Fokker D.II Destroyed Achiet
5 21 September 1916
@ 1745 		DH.2
(7911) 		LVG two-seater Forced to land North of Miraumont
6 22 September 1916
@ 1140 		DH.2
(7911) 		Enemy aircraft Forced to land Vélu
7 22 September 1916
@ 1800 		DH.2
(7911) 		Rumpler two-seater Forced to land Grandcourt
8 23 September 1916
@ 0815 		DH.2
(7911) 		Rumpler two-seater Forced to land East of Combles
9 28 September 1916
@ 1710 		DH.2
(A2538) 		LVG two-seater Forced to land Rocquigny
10 16 October 1916
@ 1030 		DH.2
(5925) 		Albatros D.I Forced to land Biefvillers

Honours and awards

Distinguished Service Order
Second Lieutenant Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne, Royal Artillery and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He has shown great pluck in attacking hostile machines, often against large odds. He has accounted for several. On one occasion, with two other machines, he attacked seventeen enemy machines, shot down one in flames and forced another to land."[9]

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 "Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Casualty Details: Byrne, Patrick Anthony Laugan". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Catholics in the War Honours". The Tablet: 12. 25 November 1916. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28932. p. 8043. 9 October 1914.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29723. p. 8399. 25 August 1916.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29801. p. 10378. 24 October 1916.
  7. ↑ Guttman & Dempsey (2009), pp. 40–44.
  8. ↑ Guttman & Dempsey (2009), p. 45.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29824. p. 11041. 14 November 1916.
Bibliography
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