Operation: Armed reconnaissance

Date: 26th March 1945 (Monday)

Unit: No. 486 Squadron (RNZAF) 122 Wing. 83 Group

Type: Tempest V

Serial: NV932

Code: SA-U

Base: B80 - Volkel, Netherlands

Location: 5km South of Xanten, Germany

Pilot: P/O. Anthony Harold Bailey NZ/417146 RNZAF Age 23. Seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

With the great research carried out by Errol Martyn on the Royal New Zealand Airforce losses we have been able to compile this page. If you have further information and or photographs we would welcome contact from you.

Taking off at 17:20 hrs on a armed reconnaissance operation over the Minden - Hanover areas.

Shortly afterwards, having been hit by light ant-aircraft fire over Gütersloh, he was forced to return. When near the Rhine the engine failed but the New Zealand pilot managed to glide the Tempest across the river to make a forced landing 5 km south of Xanten.

Sadly, during the landing on an open field in poor light conditions the aircraft hit a stone building. Although an ambulance arrived within minutes the seriously injured pilot died en route to the hospital.

Burial details:

Initially buried at Kapellen his body was reinterred after the war at the CWWG cemetery at Reichswald.

P/O. Anthony Harold Bailey. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 10.F.16. Son of Charles James Bailey, and of Maud Constance Bailey (née Robson), of Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 632 flying hours logged and had completed some 73 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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