Not much is known about Sgt John Arthur Bailey. He was the son of Jesse James Bailey and Elizabeth Bailey, of Dunkin, Province of Quebec, Canada. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became an air gunner with 426 squadron.

It is known that he and his crew partcipated in a raid against the port of St. Nazaire, France on 28/29 march 1943. Sgt Gubb and his crew landed at a different airbase, Beaulieu, due to lack of fuel.

The next night Sgt Bailey and his crew, consisting of Sgt H. Martin RCAF, F/S R. Todd RCAF, Sgt J. Taylor RAF and Sgt J. Gubb RCAF, were sent on a mission to Berlin.

According to reports, the weather was poor, with severe icing and bombing was scattered over the target.

 

426 Squadron

Sgt Bailey and crew, flying Wellington III BJ-762 coded OW-O, took off at 19.31 from Dishford. They failed to return from this operation. They were shot down by a night fighter, flown by the well known German night fighter Oblt. Helmut Lent, and crashed near Nijemirdum at 23.46.Three of the crew, F/S Todd, Sgt Gubb and Sgt Bailey were killed. Sgt Martin and Sgt Taylor bailed out of the plane to become PoWs. Apparently Sgt Gubb bailed out of the plane, but his parachute failed to open.

Sgt H.Martin  was promoted to WO2 during captivity. He was interned in Camps L3/L6/357, PoW No.1029. Sgt J.Taylor was interred in Camps L1/L6/357, with PoW No.1039.

 

Deep In Our Hearts
Fond Memories Are Kept
Of You

Nijemirdum, The Netherlands

See Also:
F/S Richard Todd
Sgt John Gubb

Other 426 Squadron casualties buried in The Netherlands

Sources:
www.cwgc.org
www.lostbombers.co.uk

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Nijemirdum General Cemetery

posted 10 February 2007

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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