LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Eric George BAILEY
Service No: 422375
Born: Grafton NSW, 23 December 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 may 1942
Unit: No. 13 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 13 Operational Training Unit Mitchell aircraft FL193), Buckinghamshire, 21 September 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Sarah Bailey, of Grafton, New South Wales; husband of Merlin Jean Bailey of Maclean, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Grafton NSW
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Avenue of Trees Memorial, Grafton NSW
On 21 September 1943 Mitchell FL193 took off from RAF Finmere satellite airfield detailed to carry out a non-operational training exercise. Shortly after take-off at 2115 hours the aircraft crashed 3 miles from the aerodrome at Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, and burned out. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of FL193 were:
Sergeant Eric George Bailey (422375) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John Ledgerwood (421863) (Pilot)
Sergeant Michael Justin Tymms (422324) (Air Gunner)
A report on the Flying accident stated “the aircraft struck the ground at a very shallow angle and apparently at a very high speed as the engines were some 1,000 yards from the point of impact. Both motors appear to have been under power. It is possible that the accident may have been due to faulty instrument flying or that the Navigator may have fouled the controls getting in to the co-pilots seat.”
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/292
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line