Anthony “Tony” Eyre, D.F.C. – Battle of Britain Pilot

Wing Commander Anthony “Tony” Eyre, D.F.C. – Battle of Britain Pilot

Family Origins

Anthony Eyre

Anthony Eyre was born in 1918, at Lowestoft, Suffolk, the son of George William Booth Eyre and Dorothy Mary Tuttle, who had married in 1917 at Mutford, Suffolk.

1921 Census

By the 1921 Census, the Eyre family were living at 34 Sandford Road, Bromley, Kent. George, aged 34, born in Devon, was employed as an Assistant Controller, Advance Department, with the National Provincial & Union Bank of England. Dorothy, aged 31, born in Suffolk, undertook the household duties. Their two young children were Anthony, aged 2, and Pamela, aged 1. Also present in the home was a servant, Hilda May Dye, aged 21.

Early RAF Career

Anthony Eyre joined No. 615 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force, in 1938, and was called to full‑time service on 24 August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war. In November 1939, the squadron moved to France, and during the fierce fighting of May 1940, Eyre was credited with three enemy aircraft destroyed.

Because the War Ministry did not trust wireless communication for certain messages, Eyre was used as a courier, flying back and forth in one of the last remaining Gladiators. By June 1940, he was operational again, and during the Battle of Britain he added further victories to his record.

Distinguished Flying Cross

On 20 August 1940, Eyre was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation read:

“This officer has shot down seven enemy aircraft, and inflicted damage on several others. Whilst on service in France, he showed eagerness to fly on all occasions and during the winter his flying times exceeded fifty hours monthly. During the evacuation from France, Flying Officer Eyre was entrusted with an important message from England to France and successfully completed this mission, which required great coolness and presence of mind. He has at all times shown great devotion to duty.”

In December 1940, he was appointed Flight Commander, and on 26 February 1941, he took command of the squadron after the commanding officer was killed when his parachute caught fire and failed to open.

Marriage

Anthony married Jean Mary Spence in 1941, at Surrey.

Capture & Imprisonment

In April 1941, Eyre was posted away for a rest. He returned to operations in March 1942, taking command of the North Weald Wing.

On 8 March 1942, while leading his squadron on a bomber escort mission to France, Eyre was shot down. He crash‑landed just south of Mardyck aerodrome and was captured. He spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft IIIA, Sagan, in Silesia, until liberated in May 1945.

After the war, Eyre continued to serve in the RAF and was appointed Commanding Officer of RAF Fairwood Common, near Swansea.

Fatal Crash at St Athan

Tempest V

On 16 February 1946, while based at Fairwood Common, Wing Commander Eyre was killed flying a Tempest V. He reported engine trouble during a routine flight to Chilton, radioing twice before sending his final message: “I am going down.”

His aircraft crashed near St Athan, striking treetops in front of an open area where he had evidently attempted a forced landing.

The Herald of Wales reported:

“Wing Commander Anthony ‘Tony’ Eyre, D.F.C., Commanding Officer of Fairwood Aerodrome near Swansea, was killed when his Tempest single‑seater aircraft crashed near St Athan during a routine flight… He was well known and warmly regarded in Swansea. Modest and quietly spoken, he had fought in the Battle of Britain… He had spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war in Germany… He was only 27 years old, originally from Surrey, and had made his home in Pennard with his wife.”

Anthony Eyre
St Cennydd’s Church, Llangennith credit - findagrave

Eyre had become a popular figure at Fairwood, remembered for his charm at the aerodrome’s “open day” and for his modesty in public life. At a meeting of Swansea’s 800 National Savings workers at the Brangwyn Hall, he deputised for Squadron Leader R. R. Stanford Tuck, speaking with pride of Fairwood’s achievements while making no mention of his own distinguished service.

Burial

Wing Commander Anthony Eyre was laid to rest at St Cennydd’s Church, Llangennith, in the Gower landscape he had come to call home.

He is remembered as a courageous pilot, a gifted leader, and a man whose quiet dignity left a lasting impression on all who knew him.