Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Robert
Joseph
Byrne
January 24, 1917

–

April 10, 1993

Born:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Home:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Buried: 

Philadelphia

, 

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Philadelphia Memorial Park

Robert Byrne served in the U.S. Navy from 1935 to 1939, and left the service to play minor league baseball. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. During World War II, he became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. A member of the Delaware Air National Guard after the war, he was re-called to duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, flying F-94s over Alaska.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    64th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    57th Fighter Group

    Division:

    9th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert Joseph Byrne (ASN: 0-440090), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, NINTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Action during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    64th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    57th Fighter Group

    Division:

    9th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 9th Air Force, General Orders No. 59 (1943)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert Joseph Byrne (ASN: 0-440090), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Action during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    64th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    57th Fighter Group

    Division:

    9th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 9th Air Force, General Orders No. 49 (June 7, 1943)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert Joseph Byrne (ASN: 0-440090), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a P-40 Fighter Pilot of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, in 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Byrne, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.