Royal Air Force, 460 Squadron, Service no. 1235308
Born: 1922. Son of Harvey Bailey and Isabella Murray
Killed in action: 24th November 1943, aged 21
Story
Eric was the eldest child Harvey Bailey (1891-1961) and Isabella Murray (1892-1959), who married in Kippax on 20th December 1921. The family lived at 1 Robinswell Terrace before the War.
Eric was training with the Volunteer Reserve Squadron when he was killed in a flying accident in Lincolnshire. His Lancaster (JB647) was destroyed at 16:30 whilst returning from a training sortie. In heavy rain and poor visibility, the aircraft flew into high ground near Kelstern, which had an RAF station, after the pilot flew too low. Pilot F/Sgt T Newstead (Australian) was killed, F/Sgt K Bradbury (Australian) injured, F/Sgt J Stuart (Australian) injured but died the following day, F/Sgt Lawrence (Australian) injured, Sgt Stevenson injured, Sgt Esply injured, and Sgt Eric Bailey was injured, but died in hospital the same day. One of the injured men, Keith Robert James Bradbury returned to active service and was killed over Germany on 30th January 1944.
Tribute was paid to Eric Bailey by Rev. Charles O. Ellison in the Parish Magazine (Dec 1943) saying that Eric was a Sunday School Scholar and deservedly popular both at home and in the RAF where his work on numerous occasions was spoken of in high terms by those who had the best chance of judging it. He was buried in Kippax on Tuesday 30th November 1943 at 3:15pm. Members of his bomber crew were bearers at his funeral in Kippax.
Kippax Roll of Honour 