Squadron Leader JRA Bailey
James Richard Abe Bailey
- Rank
- Flight Lt
- Later rank
- Squadron Leader
- Honours
- DFC
- Squadron
- No 264 Squadron
- School
- Winchester College, University of Oxford
- Fate
- Survived the war. Died 2000
- In the book
- Pages 51, 58
From the book
Against Unfavourable Odds
Twenty-year-old Pilot Officer James Richard Abe Bailey, one of South African mining magnate Sir Abe Bailey’s seven children, joined No 264 Squadron in June 1940 flying Defiants. His father died at their Cape Town home on August 10th, two weeks later, Bailey survived a difficult force landing in a badly damaged Defiant after combat cost the lives of five colleagues and seven squadron aircraft during what was the last of the squadron’s day fighting operations. Bailey was then posted to No 85 Squadron.
More than a “Few” South Africans
Derrick Thomas Louis and James Richard Abe Bailey were born in London and educated at Winchester College and Oxford. Their father Sir Abe Bailey, a well-known figure in mining, politics and cricket in South Africa ’s early history was born in the Eastern Cape in 1864 while their mother, Dame Mary Bailey a pioneer aviator, undoubtedly influenced their flying interest.
More than a “Few” South Africans
James Bailey (74325) and Percival Burton (74348) were called up from the Oxford University Air Squadron in September 1939 to serve with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
More than a “Few” South Africans
James was fourteen months younger than Derrick and by unusual coincidence, his “Distinguished Flying Cross ”award was on September 8th announced 14 days later. He finished his war service in the Air Ministry, returned to Oxford and the University Air Squadron and, spent 53 years in South Africa involved in his father’s business interests, magazine and book publishing. James Richard Abe Bailey died in Johannesburg in 2000.
More than a “Few” South Africans
It is unclear whether Derrick Bailey remained with No 233 Squadron after it was renumbered No 30 Squadron SAAF, but he served in the Middle East and South Africa and studied at the Royal Agricultural College after the War. As Sir Abe Bailey ’s second eldest son, he became Sir Derrick Thomas Louis Bailey, 3rd Baronet DFC, having inherited the baronetcy from his elder half- brother in 1946. He played county cricket, owned a racehorse, maintained aviation interests, established a small airline and lived on Alderney Island where he died in 2009.