Military Records: Lt. Bobby Byrnes, 1943, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: July 8, 1943 Winn Parish Enterprise Lt. Bobby Byrnes Gets Four Zeros In South Pacific Air Battles Just a little more than one year ago Lt. Bobby Byrnes told the Winnfield Rotary Club that he was anxious to get into the battle. Now he is credited with shooting down four Jap zeros, which report has been confirmed, and several "probables" in the air battles of the South Pacific. His job as Flight Leader is very dangerous, but he is doing the job well. The following excerpts from his letters to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Byrnes, of Winnfield, give the story of his life in the Pacific: May 21: From Somewhere in the South Pacific. I have been doing quite a bit of flying. This trip I have not sighted a Jap zero. The closest I have come is about thirty miles to seeing one. I have been digging a fox hole this afternoon which is really hard work since all of this ground is coral rock. Had a rough night last night. I spent the whole night either on the edge or in a a fox hole. The Japs really gave us a working over. May 27: Things here are as usual-quiet. Japs raid us most every night. I have just finished my week's laundry and hope it won't have to be repeated soon. June 3: This is the end of my third week here this trip, leaving me with just a little more than three more weeks to go. On my last trip here I flew sixteen combat missions, giving me forty combat hours. During this time I have flown eleven missions with about twenty-six hours. I received a letter from Lt. Jack Wallace in Hawaii, one from Robert Lewis of Shreveport, and one from Raymond Breazeale of Natchitoches. The climate at my base had just gotten pleasant when I left, cool, a little drier, and up here it is the same old thing, wet and hot. My clothes get sour, mouldy, and, in general, very disagreeable. There is a New Zealand outfit here flying the same type of equipment as ours. We have flown with them on several missions, and they are a fine bunch of fellows to know. I am still getting fat, and, generally speaking, in good condition. P. S. I have the stamp problem and envelope situation licked by putting powder on the glue. June 6: I have had some "happy hunting," if you want to call it that, since I wrote you last. On a Jap raid up the line I got my first confirmed zero, and my wing man also got one. We had a pretty good scrap, and one man in the second flight from me did not return. I don't know whether I mentioned it or not, but last trip I was quite sure I got another zero, but it was never confirmed. I have flown ten hours here since yesterday morning, or in the last twenty-eight hours. In fact, my neck is rubbed raw from looking for zeros. Well, here's hoping I "nip more Nips." June 11: Things have been going fine here, and we have been giving the Japs the short end of the horn lately. As I told you before, we raided the Jap stronghold on the fifth when my wing man and I each got a zero, which is only a small part of what happened on that day. On the seventh the Japs staged a "face saving" raid on us, much to their disaster. My squadron shot down ten confirmed, and about four probables, of which two more will probably be confirmed. This brings our score up to about thirty-two. We lost one plane which crashed into a zero, but the pilot was picked up later by a crash boat. The pilot received second degree burns about the face and hands, but no other injuries and is all okey. June 13: I have some more good news, or, at least I consider it such. I shot down another Jap zero yesterday. I had a zero chase me while I was alone from about 25,000 feet down to about 5,000 feet, where, luckily, I saw a couple of P-39s below me, when most in need of help. I made a quick turn, and decoyed the zero in front of them, and they promptly shot him off my tail. I'll bet the Jap never knew what hit him. The speed down was so fast that I reached about 500 miles per hour in a power dive. June 17: We had a big show here yesterday, and my flight shot down seven zeros. Of these I got two. Our squadron score is now around fifty-five, which I think is plenty good. The base you mentioned has gotten plenty of attention right along. I have been up there several times myself, and further up also. June 20: I received several letters today from you, and one from Richard and Robert Heard; also one from Harvey Rhymes. Nothing newsworthy has happened since the sixteenth when we won the greatest air victory of the Pacific. This was the day I increased my score to four zeros confirmed, and several probables. I think our squadron could be ranked with General Chenault's China outfit. June 24: I am rounding out six weeks in this battle area, looking forward to a rest down below. I understand it is winter there. My wardrobe of heavy clothes is very limited, but I can probably draw a G. I. overcoat, which will help keep me warm while I am there.