Cadet Walter “Byron” Eby

Walter “Byron” Eby was born January 14, 1921 to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Eby. He was raised in Faywood NM on the family ranch that was homesteaded by his grandfather, a driver for the Butterfield stage line between Mesilla and Steens. He graduated from Silver City High School in 1938 and enrolled at NM Teachers College in Silver City. He transferred to NMAMC the following fall. He remained at NMAMC for one year studying Agriculture. In April 1942 he was selected to participate in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at NMAMC as a naval air corps enlisted reserve to advance to training as a naval aviation cadet. On July 13, 1943, while training to be a bomber pilot at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, the bomb attached to his aircraft failed to properly release. The drag tore the wings off his aircraft and he died as a result of the crash. He is buried at Deming NM. Byron Eby was 22 years of age at the time of his death.