Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne


Second Lieutenant Patrick Anthony Langan Byrne was an Irish flying ace of the First World War credited with ten aerial victories.

Early life and education

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

World War I

Langan-Byrne was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 9 October 1914, serving in 129th Battery, 30th Brigade. He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he was appointed a flying officer on 4 August 1916.
Langan-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. His being shot down by four Germans on 23 September did not seem to daunt him.
He was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 14 October 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 the German ace's 34th victory. Langan-Byrne's grave site is unknown, though it is known he was buried. His Officer Commanding, Major Lanoe Hawker, lamented, "He was such a nice lad, as well as the best officer I have ever met." As a flying casualty of the Western Front with no known grave he is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
Having scored all of his 10 victories in the Airco DH.2, he's the most successful pilot in the type.

List of aerial victories

No.Date/TimeAircraft/
Serial No.		OpponentResultLocation
131 August 1916
@ 1800		DH.2
Enemy aircraftForced to landNorth of Bapaume
22 September 1916
@ 1935		DH.2
Single-seat fighterOut of controlBeaulencourt
315 September 1916
@ 0830		DH.2
Single-seat fighterDestroyed in flamesNorth-east of Morval
416 September 1916
@ 1900		DH.2
Fokker D.IIDestroyedAchiet
521 September 1916
@ 1745		DH.2
LVG two-seaterForced to landNorth of Miraumont
622 September 1916
@ 1140		DH.2
Enemy aircraftForced to landVélu
722 September 1916
@ 1800		DH.2
Rumpler two-seaterForced to landGrandcourt
823 September 1916
@ 0815		DH.2
Rumpler two-seaterForced to landEast of Combles
928 September 1916
@ 1710		DH.2
LVG two-seaterForced to landRocquigny
1016 October 1916
@ 1030		DH.2
Albatros D.IForced to landBiefvillers

Honours and awards

;Distinguished Service Order