Who Was W/O Byers? - My Hardest Challenge Yet?
 

One of the No.1690 B(D)TF pilots I am trying to trace the lives of is a Warrant Officer Byers. Unfortunately, I do not have his service number or initials - all I do know about him is that he was detailed to fly some of the Unit's Martinets, from RAF Scampton to RAF Winthorpe, on 21st August 1944. This isn't much to go on, I know, but I'm hoping some of the ridiculously knowledgeable people on here might be able to provide me with some clues. Thanks in advance folks........ Andrew

Well, this is VERY EMBARRASSING! I've looked again, and I think this chap's surname might be 'Eyres' not 'Byers' - I should have gone to Specsavers! It seems highly likely that he was Ron Eyres, who had flown missions as a Sgt. pilot with No.50 Squadron before rupturing an ear drum and been forced to serve as an instructor for the rest of his career. He next shows up as a F/Sgt and flying an Avro Manchester with No.1485 B&G Flight on 11 Feb 1943: when he had to execute an emergency landing due to an engine failure. This is particularly interesting as No.1485 B&G Flight was renamed as No.1690 B(D)TDF in February 1944 so F/Sgt R Eyres could have still be at the renamed unit, and promoted to W/O status, some eighteen months later, in August 1944. If anyone can add to this information to complete the picture, I'd be extremely grateful. Cheers, Andrew

It was definitely a W/O Eyres that served with No.1690 B(D)TF. I have just received a copy of another pilot's logbook and it clearly shows him flying with a W/O Eyres in a Martinet. No initials shown, but so far, so good!

People might like to read the same thread on RAF Commands site, to avoid duplication of effort

W/O Byers - My Hardest Challenge Yet! - Page 2

Thanks, Andrew