The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. E A Bayley

Edward Alan Bayley was born in Eastbourne, Sussex on 27th March 1911, the son of Edward George Bayley and Edith Bayley (nee Fitt).

He was educated at Caterham School and Eastbourne Grammar School. He later went to Canada to study at an agricultural college and on his return to the UK ran a silver fox farm.

He then went into engineering and became manager of Walsall aerodrome.

Bayley married Josephine Adele McKiernan (1909 - 1957) in July 1932 in Tonbridge, Kent. They are believed to have had three children.

Bayley joined the Eastbourne Flying Club at Wilmington airfield and qualified as a pilot, his licence was issued on 10th November 1933 (ID photo below).

He joined the RAFVR in 1937. He was called up at the outbreak of war and was sent to 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill.

On July 3rd Bayley shared in the destruction of a Do17 and on August 18th he claimed a Do215 destroyed. He was posted to 249 Squadron at North Weald on 17th September 1940.

Bayley was killed on 10th October 1940 when his Hurricane, V7537, crashed at Shades House, Cooling Marsh during a routine patrol. The cause is not known but it may have been caused by Bayley losing consciousness due to oxygen failure.

He is buried in St Luke's Cemetery, Bromley, Kent.