Desmond Michael BYRNE

Service Number: NZ429141
RNZAF Trade: Navigator
Date of Enlistment: 1st of August 1942
Rank Achieved: Warrant Officer
Flying Hours: Unknown hours
Operational Sorties: Unknown Ops

Date of Birth: Unknown
Personal Details: Unknown

Service Details: Desmond Byrne joined the RNZAF on the 1st of August 1942, and was posted to RNZAF Station Masterton (also known as Hood Aerodrome). He was a member of the Aerodrome Defence Unit there intially, with the designation of Aircrafthand (ADU).

On the 5th of May 1943 he embarked aboard the Matsonia for Canada, and was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force on the 19th of May 1943. he was posted to No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary and completed his course there on the 31st of October 1944. He then proceeded to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School at Jarvis. He completed his Canadian training at No. 1 Air Observer School, at Malton. Following training he sailed for Britain and was attached to the Royal Air Force.

Desmond was one of the 1476 RNZAF personnel who returned to New Zealand aboard the troopship Andes, docking at the Port of Lyttleton, Christchurch, on Wednesday the 24th of October 1945.

Connection with Cambridge: Warrant Officer Byrne was listed as coming from Cambridge in the report about the return of airmen aboard the Andes in the Auckland Star dated the 22nd of October 1945.

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