Robert Bailey
Born 11 Sept 1923 - Died 23 Apr 1944
- Service number
- WWII NZ429072 AWMM
- WWII 429072 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Robert AWMM
- Surname
- Bailey AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWII NZ429072 AWMM
- WWII 429072 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- Church of England, Christian AWMM
- Methodist, Christian AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 11 Sept 1923 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Pre 15 Oct 1941 AWMM 33 Koraha Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs Inez Freeman (mother), 33 Koraha Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Mother: Mrs I. Freeman, 33 Koraha Street, Remuera, Auckland AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ429072 AWMM
- WWII 429072 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- —
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Graduation Date: 11/06/1943. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Air Observer School, Malton, Ontario, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 15 Oct 1941 AWMM
Age 18 AWMM
Lithographer/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Bloemfontein AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 feet 8 3/4 inches AWMM - Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
Fair AWMM - Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
Grey AWMM - Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
Fair AWMM - Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Inez Freeman (formerly Bailey) and stepson of James Freeman, of Remuera, Auckland. Next of kin listed as Mrs J. Freeman, Remuera
Entered Papakura Camp on 20 March 1942.
65th Battery, 15th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Narrow Neck, 15 April 1942.
Transferred to 22nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Narrow Neck, 18 May 1942.
Posted to 98th Battery, Whenuapai, 21 May 1942.
Transferred to Area pool for posting to RNZAF Air Defence Unit, Rukuhia, 31 July 1942.
Enlisted in RNZAF, Rukuhia, on 5 August 1942.
Bailey and his entire crew, which included fellow New Zealanders, Mauson Lammas (pilot) and Douglas William Vaughan (navigator), were killed when their Stirling bomber was shot down by German night fighters over Denmark on 23 April 1944. In April, 1994, the people of Taasinge unveiled a 50th Anniversary Memorial Stone at Vemmenaes, near where the Stirling bomber crashed, to commemorate the seven airmen killed.
The Auckland Museum manuscripts collection holds papers (letters, newspaper articles, photographs, service record) relating to Flight Sergeant Bailey's war service (MS 2006/25).
Attended Northcote Intermediate High School, the Oakleigh State School and Melbourne High School, Victoria, Australia (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
22 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, New Zealand Territorials. 303 hours as air bomber (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 23 Apr 1944 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark AWMM Allied Military Plot, Row 4, Grave 6 AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
- Albany Memorial Library, Auckland AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2270702
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845745
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- The Weekly News
The Weekly News 1944 - Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
- Bailey, Andrew Robert. Papers relating to war service of Flight Sergeant Robert Bailey, 75 Squadron, RNZAF, 1942 - 1994. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2006/25.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- Information kindly provided by family
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
- The Weekly News
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