Flight Sergeant, RAF
Born: 30 August 1922
Died: 22 May 1944
Age at Death: 21
Killed, 22 May 1944
Miss V.W. Baily, 21 Grosvenor Road, Finchley N3
Lionel Baily was born in Barnet, Middlesex, on 30 August 1922 to John Baily, a hardware merchant, and his wife Millicent (née Walby). After three years at the College, where he won gold in an 880-yard race, Baily enlisted in the RAF in September 1940. He trained as a wireless operator and air gunner, and then in signals and air observation. In 1944 he was assigned to 18 Squadron, based at Marcianise airfield, about 17 miles north of Naples.
In the first five months of 1944 Lionel and his crew mainly flew missions to reconnoitre enemy road traffic in the area between Cassino, Anzio and Rome, operating the Boston III, a US aircraft designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance machine. On 22 May his plane took off shortly after midnight to conduct armed reconnaissance. The plane was reported to have flown into the sea, after the pilot struggled with poor visibility. Baily is remembered at the Malta Memorial, a monument to aircrew who lost their lives in the Mediterranean and have no known grave.