Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne

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

Early life and education Byrne was born in Clogherhead, County 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.

Langan-Byrne flew an Airco DH-2 such as this for all of his victories.

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.