Reginald Hyde

Reginald Jack Hyde
Hyde in 1944
Born	(1912-12-21)21 December 1912 Islington, Christchurch, New Zealand
Died	23 March 1985(1985-03-23) (aged 72) Christchurch, New Zealand
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service	1938–1945 (RAFVR) 1945 (RNZAF)
Rank	Squadron Leader
Unit	No. 66 Squadron No. 261 Squadron No. 197 Squadron
Commands held	No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit
Battles/wars	Second World War Battle of France Battle of Britain Siege of Malta Circus offensive
Awards	Air Force Cross Mention in Despatches (2) Air Efficiency Award

Reginald Jack Hyde, AFC, AE (21 December 1912 – 23 March 1985) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) during the Second World War. He was officially credited with having shot down at least five aircraft.

Born in Christchurch, Hyde was working in the United Kingdom in an electrical factory when he joined the RAFVR in July 1938. The following year he started receiving full-time flight training with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Mobilised after the outbreak of the Second World War, he was loaned to the Fleet Air Arm and trained to operate from aircraft carriers. Returning to RAF service, he was posted to No. 66 Squadron, and flew patrols over Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and the North Sea during the Battle of Britain. In August 1940 he was sent to Malta, where he served for several months with No. 261 Squadron and achieved the majority of his aerial victories. He returned to the United Kingdom in May 1941, instructing until the end of 1942. He was then posted to No. 197 Squadron, flying on operations to German-occupied Europe as part of the Circus offensive.

Hyde was involved in the making of the film Signed with Their Honour in the later part of 1943, before taking up a series of instructing posts. In February 1945 he transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force but continued to serve with the RAF. His final posting was as the commanding officer of No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit. In September he returned to New Zealand and went onto the Reserve of Pilots at the end of the year. He worked in the electrical industry until his retirement. He died in 1985, aged 72.