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. 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, Byrne tied the record for most victories while flying that aircraft type, alongside Lieutenant Colonel Alan Wilkinson.

List of aerial victories

+Combat recordNo. Date/Time Aircraft/Serial No. Opponent Result Location1 31 August 1916@ 1800 DH.2(6010) Enemy aircraft Forced to land North of Bapaume2 2 September 1916@ 1935 DH.2(6010) Single-seat fighter Out of control Beaulencourt3 15 September 1916@ 0830 DH.2(7911) Single-seat fighter Destroyed in flames North-east of Morval4 16 September 1916@ 1900 DH.2(7911) Fokker D.II Destroyed Achiet5 21 September 1916@ 1745 DH.2(7911) LVG two-seater Forced to land North of Miraumont6 22 September 1916@ 1140 DH.2(7911) Enemy aircraft Forced to land Vélu7 22 September 1916@ 1800 DH.2(7911) Rumpler two-seater Forced to land Grandcourt8 23 September 1916@ 0815 DH.2(7911) Rumpler two-seater Forced to land East of Combles9 28 September 1916@ 1710 DH.2(A2538) LVG two-seater Forced to land Rocquigny10 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."

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