LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Robert Summerson BAILEY
Service No: 401770
Born: Merbein VIC, 23 April 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 March 1941
Unit: No. 75 Squadron, Port Moresby PNG
Died: Air Operations: (No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-5), New Guinea, 28 March 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Percival Summerson Bailey and Hettie Caroline Emily Bailey; husband of Irene Mavis Bailey, of Merbein, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Merbein VIC
Remembered: Panel 9, Port Moresby Memorial, PNG
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 28 March 1942 a Fighter Section from No. 76 Squadron engaged an enemy formation near Red Scar Bay 60 kms north west of Port Moresby and Sergeant Bailey was shot down in the resulting combat.
The Fighter Section members were:
Sergeant Robert Summerson Bailey (401770)
Pilot Officer Oswald John Channon (411286) Killed on Air Operations: 24 April 1942
Sergeant (later Flight Lieutenant) John Walter Wedgwood Piper DFC (250828) Discharged from the RAAF: 9 March 1945
Pilot Officer (later Squadron Leader) Jeffrey Woods (406064) Discharged from the RAAF: 15 September 1945.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/50/48
Bibliography:
Wilson, D. (David) The Decisive Factor: 75 and 76 squadrons Port Moresby and Milne Bay 1942, Banner Books Brunswick VIC 3056, 1991
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1988