He later applied for pilot training and was accepted. He appears to have had a spell as a staff pilot and then served with Nos 610 and 611 Squadrons.
By early May 1940 he was with No 46 Squadron (Hurricanes) and went with the squadron to Norway. On 2 June Sergeant Tyrer shared in damaging a Ju 87 near Skaanland. He was evacuated by the Navy on 8 June.
Still with 46 during the Battle of Britain, Tyrer damaged a Do 17 and a Bf 109 on 7 September, destroyed a Do 17 on the 15th and probably destroyed a Ju 88 and a Bf 110 and damaged a Bf 109 on the 27th. He was now a Flight Sergeant.
Commissioned in November 1941, he was released from the RAF in 1945 in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
On 1 April 1946, Tyrer was killed flying Dragon Rapide G-AERZ, operated by Railway Air Services, which crashed in dense fog on Royal Belfast Golf Course, Craigavad, County Down, about 200 yards from the club house. Another crew member and four passengers were also lost.
The aircraft had been en route from Speke, Liverpool to Belfast on a scheduled passenger service. It was approaching Belfast City Airport when it hit trees. Heavy rain was also encountered and it was believed that the pilot had reduced altitude to try to retain ground visibility. People associated with the golf club, including the head steward and a bar steward, ran to try to help. One casualty was found outside the burning wreckage and was able to speak, but later died.
