Geoffrey Bailey
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Geoffrey Grierson Bailey was an English World War I flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories. Although well connected in English society of the time, he faded into obscurity postwar.
, who managed the family's law firm in London. The younger Bailey, then nicknamed "Buster", began attending Westminster School
on 26 September 1912, according to the school's records. In April 1917, he quit to join the Royal Flying Corps
, enlisting on 2 May 1917.
mistakenly gazetted as G. C. Bailey throughout war, until a notice of correction was made postwar on 21 November 1919.
However, it is known that after training as a scout
pilot, Bailey was assigned to 43 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Camel
on the Western Front in France. He posted his first aerial victory on 16 February 1918, and became an ace with his fifth on 9 May 1918. By the time he scored his eighth win against opposing German fighters, his tally included an Albatros D.III
set afire in midair, three Albatros D.V
s destroyed, and three Albatros D.Vs and a Fokker D.VII
driven down out of control.
His combat performance was rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918, gazetted 3 August 1918.
On 6 December 1918 he was confirmed as in the rank of lieutenant.
He was reputed to have emigrated to South Africa circa 1929. After that, nothing is known.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with eight aerial victories. Although well connected in English society of the time, he faded into obscurity postwar.
Early life
Geoffrey Gierson Bailey was born on 10 March 1899. He was the youngest of the three sons born to Norman Coles Bailey, solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, who managed the family's law firm in London. The younger Bailey, then nicknamed "Buster", began attending Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
on 26 September 1912, according to the school's records. In April 1917, he quit to join the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, enlisting on 2 May 1917.
World War I
Tracing Geoffrey Grierson Bailey through official papers can be confusing; sometimes mentioned as G. G. Bailey, he was also occasionallymistakenly gazetted as G. C. Bailey throughout war, until a notice of correction was made postwar on 21 November 1919.
However, it is known that after training as a scout
Fighter
Fighter or The Fighter may refer to:*Warrior, a person skilled in combat*Soldier, someone in the army*Fighter aircraft, a warplane designed to destroy or damage enemy warplanes in air-to-air combatFilms...
pilot, Bailey was assigned to 43 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
on the Western Front in France. He posted his first aerial victory on 16 February 1918, and became an ace with his fifth on 9 May 1918. By the time he scored his eighth win against opposing German fighters, his tally included an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
set afire in midair, three Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
s destroyed, and three Albatros D.Vs and a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
driven down out of control.
His combat performance was rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918, gazetted 3 August 1918.
On 6 December 1918 he was confirmed as in the rank of lieutenant.
Post World War I
On 23 September 1919,The London Gazette, 24 October 1919, p. 13031 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31616/pages/13031 Retrieved 16 October 2011. Geoffrey Bailey, by now nicknamed "Lumpy", ended his military service when he was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force.The London Gazette, 24 October 1919, p. 13031 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31616/pages/13031 Retrieved 16 October 2011.He was reputed to have emigrated to South Africa circa 1929. After that, nothing is known.