In May 1940, having converted to Hurricanes, he was sent to France. On 28 May he joined No 73 Squadron there. The squadron returned to the UK in June.
In combat with Bf 110s on 27 September, O’Byrne’s Hurricane suffered engine damage and he made a wheels-up landing in a Surrey wood, tearing his wings off.
On 25 October O’Byrne was posted to No 501 Squadron at Kenley. Four days later he made a crash-landing near Leatherhead, during a routine patrol, but again escaped unhurt.
He moved to No 601 Squadron on 21 December but the stay was short. He was designated for overseas service in January 1941 and embarked on HMS Furious on 1 March.
After a period in the Middle East Pool and at HQ Abu Sueir, O’Byrne was posted to No 112 Squadron in Crete, but four days later it was withdrawn as the Germans advanced. He returned to the Middle East and rejoined No 73 Squadron. O’Byrne served with the Met Flight and was promoted to Warrant Officer.
He was later posted to No 267 Squadron at Bari, Italy, to fly Dakotas, dropping supplies to partisans in Yugoslavia. He later returned to the UK, but then served in Burma, reaching home again in July 1946. Later that year he left the RAF as a Warrant Officer.
Peter O’Byrne joined Aer Lingus as a pilot. He went on to fly with Jersey Airlines, as a Captain, until his retirement. He died in July 1998.
