branch death_date birth_place unit awards placeofburial_label placeofburial birth_date rank article_title name
aviation 16 october 1916 clogherhead , county louth , ireland no. 24 squadron rfc distinguished service order arras flying services memorial pas de calais , france 1895 lieutenant patrick anthony langan-byrne
 patrick anthony langan-byrne
patrick anthony langan-byrne

lieutenant patrick anthony langan-byrne was a pioneering irish world war i flying ace credited with ten aerial victories .
langan-bryne began his victories on 31 august 1916 , when he used airco dh .2 no. 6011 to force an enemy plane to land .
three days later , he drove a german fighter plane 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 , langan-bryne destroyed a fokker d.ii .
then , between 21 september and 1030 hours 16 october 1916 , he ran off a string of half a dozen `` forced to land '' victories '' .
he was appointed flight commander just prior to that last win .
at 1700 hours 16 october , he was airborne for his second sortie of the day .
he led b flight right for oswald boelcke , who promptly killed him for his 34th victory .
langan-bryne '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 . ''
