It is my sad duty to report the final flight of Col. Donn A. Byrnes, USAF Ret. The loss of Colonel Byrnes leaves a void in the aviation community that will be impossible to fill. He was a corner post to all our aviation reunions and events as well as in the aviation literary world where he published books about aviation. Colonel Byrnes was a mustang who chose to remain in the Air Force rather than pursue the medical field that was his heritage. He advanced from being a PFC aircraft mechanic to Aviation Cadet and Air Force pilot. He flew F-84s and F-86Ds in the U.S., Japan, and Guam before attending an Air Force Institute of Technology-sponsored program in electrical engineering at the University of Texas where he earned his BSEE. This led to his being a SR-71 Sensor Test Engineer and Flight Test Engineer. Colonel Byrnes served as Base Commander at Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Following that assignment, he served as Airframe Projects Manager, Deputy Chief Engineer and, finally, Director of Projects. with the F-15 System Program Office (SPO). He retired from the Air Force from the position of Director of Engineering at the Air Force Contract Management Division, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Colonel Byrnes retired in November 1978 after accumulating more than 3,200 pilot hours, most of which was single engine jet time. Returning to engineering, he worked for DynCorp, Raytheon, BDM, and other technical services companies until 1987, when he and his oldest daughter, Kathleen, formed an engineering consulting and database management company. Colonel Byrnes was a member of Roadrunners Internationale and the published author of two books: Blackbird Rising and Air Superiority Blue, an F-15 story. Since 1977 Donn and his wife Sparks have made their home on a small patch of desert mesa near Los Lunas, New Mexico. Donn leaves a legacy of being a gentleman with compassion for his fellow man. He will be long remembered by his many friends. Our condolences to Sparks and Donn’s family and friends.
Funeral services will be posted at they become available.
Thornton D. “TD” Barnes
President
Roadrunners Internationale

BYRNES, COL. DONN A. (RET.)
1931 – 2012 Donn Byrnes left us to be with the Lord on Monday, January 23, 2012. The eldest son of Gen. Victor Byrnes, M.D. and Ethel Seebach, he embraced early the joy of learning and understanding how things worked. Fascinated with airplanes and flight, Donn joined the Air Force at 19 and became a pilot. He later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Electrical Engineering and enjoyed a challenging career as an aeronautical engineer and technical program manager. Donn found life incredibly interesting and devoured “how to” books on any topic that transformed one thing into another. He taught himself to weld, cast jewelry and machine with a lathe. He designed and fabricated a one man submarine, a boat, water skis, computers, a glider, and a house (with his second wife, Sparks), just to name a few projects. He loved putting together cars, trucks and motorcycles that were terribly fun to drive but not particularly safe. Everything and anything could be (and should be) transformed into something new. Junk yards, pawn shops, a welder and a shop provided the makings for New Things. He also loved photography and developing his own photographs, reloading his own bullets, locksmithing, surveying and repairing anything that was broken. After retiring, he took a correspondence course in writing. At 68, he published Blackbird Rising – Birth of an Aviation Legend, a book about the SR-71. At 76, he published Air Superiority Blue – The F-15 Story and at 79, his autobiography, A Boy Who Loved Airplanes. He loved hearing other people’s stories, interviewing people on various topics and was at work on a mystery novel. He would have loved Storage Wars and Dirty Money but he didn’t have much time for TV. The cancer took him quickly – so quickly he missed his first appointment with the oncologist. He passed away peacefully and pain free surrounded by loved ones. And he would want you to know, he was grateful for you and your friendship. Donn is survived by his wife, Sylvia “Sparks” Byrnes; his four daughters and their spouses, Kathleen and Dan Johns, Kim and Barry Syra, Connie and Mark Knauss and Karen Allen; step-children and their spouses, Phyllis and Claude Tarbell, Peggy and Bob Robey, and Arthur Tennyson; his step-brother, Frank Presson and wife, Jackie; and, of course, everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. Please join us to celebrate Donn’s life on Monday, January 30, 2012, 10:00 a.m., at French-Lomas Chapel., with visitation one hour prior to the service from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Thank you for writing this fine tribute to our friend. Donn was always inquisitive about everything. I think he was amazed that he was able to help solve tough problems associated with the SR-71 and F-15 programs. He loved to fly airplanes and be around folks who shared this interest. He was even curious about his newfound digital camera. He had to know exactly how it worked and was excited about exploring it. I’m privileged to have been in the loop with our dear friend Ken Hurley who refreshed his relationship with Donn after some 30 years and together they wrote Blackbird Rising. How wonderful it was to observe this from a conversation to publication. Many stories.

Donn was a relatively private man except when he had an audience and a microphone in front of one of our symposiums. Then he became animated, had a broad smile, and told the story of the sensor suite with accuracy and vigor. I’ve seen him go from audience member to loud presenter within 10 seconds! He would answer all questions, some from pilots, RSOs, and other program members. He loved it.

Sparks is his life long partner and accompanied him around the country. She is always warm and has a wonderful way with painting with watercolors. There was no complaining, just enjoying it all. What a fine team.

We shall always remember the good times.

Don