Major (Retired) Byron K. Doyle, of Comox, "led his final flight plan on 15 June 2022 and was cleared direct to escape the surly bonds of earth to join his beautiful bride Gerrie Doyle".
~~Byron Doyle ("BK" to his friends--and later in his RCAF flying career, known as the "Wise and Ancient Silver Fox") was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 Sept 1932 to Charles ("Paddy") Doyle and Margaret Ilona (née Gonczy) Doyle [father born in New Brunswick; mother born in Saskatchewan]. Raised in various parts of Vancouver, his family ultimately settled on prime farm land between No. 3 and Gilbert Road along Steveston Highway.
Life was difficult and money was scarce for the Doyle family after his father, Charles, perished in a flying incident on 31 July 1940; however Byron's Mom and siblings sowed love and integrity into their lives which eased their economic burden.
~~BK's love of flying was instilled by his father and so he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1953. His flight training included a posting for fighter training on the North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet to RCAF Chatham, New Brunswick. While there, BK met and married Geraldine ('Gerrie') Rebecca McCafferty of Newcastle. Then came a posting to RCAF 4 (F) Wing, Baden, Soellingen, Germany; a son and daughter were born on German soil.
~~Byron's next posting was to RCAF Centralia, Ontario; Gerrie and Byron's third child, a daughter was born there.
~~An accomplished formation aerobatics pilot, Byron flew with the "Smoke Eaters", a Chipmunk Synchronized Aerobatic Team based out of Centralia; he was also one of the pilots of the "Golden Centennaires", Canada's RCAF aerobatic flying team which was formed to celebrate Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. The "Golden Centennaires" team displayed 8-plane aerobatics never before seen in the world flying their CT-114 Tutor jets; they performed in 121 shows across Canada, the United States and in the Bahamas.
~~During his RCAF career, he also flew other fighters jets; as well, he assumed the roles of Chief Flying Instructor, Quality Check Pilot, Careers Officer and was Base Flight Safety Officer at CFB Comox, when he retired.
~~After his retirement, he commercial fished for a time with his older brother Chuck aboard their 62′ seiner, the 'Quesnel Lake'.
~~Byron then renewed his wings, exploring British Columbia's west coast in support of fishing operations with Quality Fish Company and the Canadian Fishing Company. He and Gerrie finally settled down in Courtenay, BC.
~~He is survived by his sister, Shirley; his two sons and one daughter; his seven grandchildren; and his two great grandchildren.
~~Byron was predeceased by his parents; his brothers Charles, Douglas, Timothy and his sister Connie.
~~A Celebration of Life was held in the Officers Mess, CFB Comox, on 3 Sept 2022.
**Per Ardua Ad Astra.**
~~Byron Doyle ("BK" to his friends--and later in his RCAF flying career, known as the "Wise and Ancient Silver Fox") was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 Sept 1932 to Charles ("Paddy") Doyle and Margaret Ilona (née Gonczy) Doyle [father born in New Brunswick; mother born in Saskatchewan]. Raised in various parts of Vancouver, his family ultimately settled on prime farm land between No. 3 and Gilbert Road along Steveston Highway.
Life was difficult and money was scarce for the Doyle family after his father, Charles, perished in a flying incident on 31 July 1940; however Byron's Mom and siblings sowed love and integrity into their lives which eased their economic burden.
~~BK's love of flying was instilled by his father and so he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1953. His flight training included a posting for fighter training on the North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet to RCAF Chatham, New Brunswick. While there, BK met and married Geraldine ('Gerrie') Rebecca McCafferty of Newcastle. Then came a posting to RCAF 4 (F) Wing, Baden, Soellingen, Germany; a son and daughter were born on German soil.
~~Byron's next posting was to RCAF Centralia, Ontario; Gerrie and Byron's third child, a daughter was born there.
~~An accomplished formation aerobatics pilot, Byron flew with the "Smoke Eaters", a Chipmunk Synchronized Aerobatic Team based out of Centralia; he was also one of the pilots of the "Golden Centennaires", Canada's RCAF aerobatic flying team which was formed to celebrate Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. The "Golden Centennaires" team displayed 8-plane aerobatics never before seen in the world flying their CT-114 Tutor jets; they performed in 121 shows across Canada, the United States and in the Bahamas.
~~During his RCAF career, he also flew other fighters jets; as well, he assumed the roles of Chief Flying Instructor, Quality Check Pilot, Careers Officer and was Base Flight Safety Officer at CFB Comox, when he retired.
~~After his retirement, he commercial fished for a time with his older brother Chuck aboard their 62′ seiner, the 'Quesnel Lake'.
~~Byron then renewed his wings, exploring British Columbia's west coast in support of fishing operations with Quality Fish Company and the Canadian Fishing Company. He and Gerrie finally settled down in Courtenay, BC.
~~He is survived by his sister, Shirley; his two sons and one daughter; his seven grandchildren; and his two great grandchildren.
~~Byron was predeceased by his parents; his brothers Charles, Douglas, Timothy and his sister Connie.
~~A Celebration of Life was held in the Officers Mess, CFB Comox, on 3 Sept 2022.
**Per Ardua Ad Astra.**
Major (Retired) Byron K. Doyle, of Comox, "led his final flight plan on 15 June 2022 and was cleared direct to escape the surly bonds of earth to join his beautiful bride Gerrie Doyle".
~~Byron Doyle ("BK" to his friends--and later in his RCAF flying career, known as the "Wise and Ancient Silver Fox") was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 Sept 1932 to Charles ("Paddy") Doyle and Margaret Ilona (née Gonczy) Doyle [father born in New Brunswick; mother born in Saskatchewan]. Raised in various parts of Vancouver, his family ultimately settled on prime farm land between No. 3 and Gilbert Road along Steveston Highway.
Life was difficult and money was scarce for the Doyle family after his father, Charles, perished in a flying incident on 31 July 1940; however Byron's Mom and siblings sowed love and integrity into their lives which eased their economic burden.
~~BK's love of flying was instilled by his father and so he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1953. His flight training included a posting for fighter training on the North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet to RCAF Chatham, New Brunswick. While there, BK met and married Geraldine ('Gerrie') Rebecca McCafferty of Newcastle. Then came a posting to RCAF 4 (F) Wing, Baden, Soellingen, Germany; a son and daughter were born on German soil.
~~Byron's next posting was to RCAF Centralia, Ontario; Gerrie and Byron's third child, a daughter was born there.
~~An accomplished formation aerobatics pilot, Byron flew with the "Smoke Eaters", a Chipmunk Synchronized Aerobatic Team based out of Centralia; he was also one of the pilots of the "Golden Centennaires", Canada's RCAF aerobatic flying team which was formed to celebrate Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. The "Golden Centennaires" team displayed 8-plane aerobatics never before seen in the world flying their CT-114 Tutor jets; they performed in 121 shows across Canada, the United States and in the Bahamas.
~~During his RCAF career, he also flew other fighters jets; as well, he assumed the roles of Chief Flying Instructor, Quality Check Pilot, Careers Officer and was Base Flight Safety Officer at CFB Comox, when he retired.
~~After his retirement, he commercial fished for a time with his older brother Chuck aboard their 62′ seiner, the 'Quesnel Lake'.
~~Byron then renewed his wings, exploring British Columbia's west coast in support of fishing operations with Quality Fish Company and the Canadian Fishing Company. He and Gerrie finally settled down in Courtenay, BC.
~~He is survived by his sister, Shirley; his two sons and one daughter; his seven grandchildren; and his two great grandchildren.
~~Byron was predeceased by his parents; his brothers Charles, Douglas, Timothy and his sister Connie.
~~A Celebration of Life was held in the Officers Mess, CFB Comox, on 3 Sept 2022.
**Per Ardua Ad Astra.**
~~Byron Doyle ("BK" to his friends--and later in his RCAF flying career, known as the "Wise and Ancient Silver Fox") was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 Sept 1932 to Charles ("Paddy") Doyle and Margaret Ilona (née Gonczy) Doyle [father born in New Brunswick; mother born in Saskatchewan]. Raised in various parts of Vancouver, his family ultimately settled on prime farm land between No. 3 and Gilbert Road along Steveston Highway.
Life was difficult and money was scarce for the Doyle family after his father, Charles, perished in a flying incident on 31 July 1940; however Byron's Mom and siblings sowed love and integrity into their lives which eased their economic burden.
~~BK's love of flying was instilled by his father and so he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1953. His flight training included a posting for fighter training on the North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet to RCAF Chatham, New Brunswick. While there, BK met and married Geraldine ('Gerrie') Rebecca McCafferty of Newcastle. Then came a posting to RCAF 4 (F) Wing, Baden, Soellingen, Germany; a son and daughter were born on German soil.
~~Byron's next posting was to RCAF Centralia, Ontario; Gerrie and Byron's third child, a daughter was born there.
~~An accomplished formation aerobatics pilot, Byron flew with the "Smoke Eaters", a Chipmunk Synchronized Aerobatic Team based out of Centralia; he was also one of the pilots of the "Golden Centennaires", Canada's RCAF aerobatic flying team which was formed to celebrate Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. The "Golden Centennaires" team displayed 8-plane aerobatics never before seen in the world flying their CT-114 Tutor jets; they performed in 121 shows across Canada, the United States and in the Bahamas.
~~During his RCAF career, he also flew other fighters jets; as well, he assumed the roles of Chief Flying Instructor, Quality Check Pilot, Careers Officer and was Base Flight Safety Officer at CFB Comox, when he retired.
~~After his retirement, he commercial fished for a time with his older brother Chuck aboard their 62′ seiner, the 'Quesnel Lake'.
~~Byron then renewed his wings, exploring British Columbia's west coast in support of fishing operations with Quality Fish Company and the Canadian Fishing Company. He and Gerrie finally settled down in Courtenay, BC.
~~He is survived by his sister, Shirley; his two sons and one daughter; his seven grandchildren; and his two great grandchildren.
~~Byron was predeceased by his parents; his brothers Charles, Douglas, Timothy and his sister Connie.
~~A Celebration of Life was held in the Officers Mess, CFB Comox, on 3 Sept 2022.
**Per Ardua Ad Astra.**
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