John Livingstone 'Tony' Boyd (DFM) was born at Byrnestown, Queensland on May 20, 1919. He enlisted in the RAAF October 11, 1940 as Trainee Aircrew. Embarked February 22, 1941 for Canada, arriving in Vancouver, March 16, 1941. Commenced training at No. 1 SFTS Camp Borden March 20, 1941, receiving his pilot’s flying badge June 6, 1941. Embarked for U.K. March 16, 1941 where he served until the fall of 1941. On October 11, 1941 Boyd delivered a Hawker Hurricane to Malta flown from the deck of the HMS Ark Royal.Boyd damaged a Ju.88 January 22, 1942 and destroyed a Messerschmitt 109G February 23. On April 16, 1942 Boyd was posted to 185 Squadron. He destroyed a Ju.88 May 8 followed by another 109G on the 14th. That afternoon he lost his life in an encounter with Macchi C.202's. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal with the following citation: “Sergeant Boyd is a courageous and skillful leader. He has shown the greatest keenness to attack the enemy at all times regardless of the odds against him. Sergeant Boyd has destroyed 3 and probably destroyed a further 4 enemy aircraft and 5 damaged.”
(Photo: Megan MacDonald and Richard J. Caruana discussing details from Pilot Officer Tony Boyd’s personal flying log book at the Malta Aviation Museum, Ta’ Qali, with the Hawker Hurricane in the background)
The Coffs Coast Advocate May 15, 2011 - Pilot in training Megan MacDonald gained incredible insights into her great uncle during filming for the Channel Nine series In Their Footsteps.
The mum of three from Gayndah in central Queensland spent two weeks travelling through Australia and Europe to retrace Tony Boyd’s eventful, if short, life.
The charismatic RAAF fighter pilot was part of the large-scale air fights in the Siege of Malta, a brutal two-year military campaign during WWII which earned the Mediterranean Island the titled of “the most bombed place on Earth”.
Boyd died in action at the age of just 22, but MacDonald learned his extraordinary efforts in the sky were significant.
“I don’t want to sound corny, but a lot of men and women made sacrifices and a lot of them lost their lives,” she said.
“I’m not saying he won the war on this own, but (it shows) just the difference that one man can make - the morale to his squadron, his flying ability. To be able to pass that on not only to my family and my children but also it’s going on national TV so other people will know his story as well.”
Incredibly, Boyd had the same amount of flying hours as his great niece when he was sent off to fight against the Italians and the notorious German Luftwaffe.
“I’ve got under 20 hours and he went to war with the same experience,” she said.
“You’re still trying to work out holding (the plane) straight and level, let alone flying into combat and being shot at and trying to do tactical manoeuvres. Obviously he was talented, but it’s hard to comprehend.”
MacDonald’s trip to Europe included flying in a dual Spitfire plane in England and a Tiger Moth in Malta – two experiences which have further solidified her love of flying.
“I’m not yet a solo pilot so to have flown in a Spitfire and taken the controls is, ah, what words do you use to describe that?”
Memorable and significant, just like the life of Pilot Officer Tony Boyd.
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