carrier HMS Illustrious as it made its way to Malta with major damage after being bombed. By this phase of the siege of Malta, the Luftwaffe were also attacking the island and on 19 January, Hyde destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber. He shot down one Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and damaged another on 22 April. The next month, No. 261 Squadron was disbanded and Hyde, now a flight sergeant, returned to the United Kingdom. Later war service Hyde was appointed as an instructor at No. 52 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Grangemouth in July. Promoted to warrant officer in October, he was mentioned in despatches in the 1942 New Year Honours for his services with the OTU. In January 1942 he was commissioned as a pilot officer and three months later was transferred to No. 55 OTU, instructing pilots on Spitfires. In December 1942, Hyde, having been promoted to acting flight lieutenant, was posted to No. 197 Squadron. This newly formed unit operated the Hawker Typhoon fighter from the RAF station at Drem and was still in training. It became operational in February 1942, initially carrying out patrols on the east coast but soon it shifted south to Tangmere and started flying on offensive operations to German-occupied Europe. On 16 April he probably destroyed a Bf 109 during the squadron's first engagement with German fighters. The frequency of operations increased into the later part of the year and in October, it converted to a fighter-bomber role. At this time Hyde was rested from operational flying and was sent to Wales, where he was involved in the filming of a movie, Signed with Their Honour; this was based on a book about the RAF in Greece during 1941. Hyde flew Gladiators for three months, during which time he was confirmed in his rank of flight lieutenant. In early 1944, he went to Sutton Bridge for a course at the Central Gunnery School there before taking up a posting at No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit (TEU) at Annan. This was followed by an appointment as the Officer Commanding (OC) of the Gunnery and Rocket Squadron at No. 62 OTU. At this time, he was promoted to acting wing commander. In recognition of his services with the RAFVR, Hyde was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1945 New Year Honours. He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force the