Pilot's flying badge of Sergeant Robert Bayley

Pilot's wings badge that Sergeant Robert Bayley gave to his wife as a memento of him, on which he has written on the reverse 'With all my love to my beloved wife from your adoring husband'.

Sergeant Bayley was the pilot of a Vickers Wellington of No.12 Squadron when it was shot down by a night fighter in October 1942. Sergeant Bayley and his crew were all lost and are buried in Belgium. At the time of his death, Sergeant Bayley was only 20 years old and had been married a few short months. His widow never remarried and treasured Bob's memory as evidenced by the small collection of his papers in the archive (X008-9251). Bob's brother, Gilbert, served in the Royal Air Force too and died only a few months after Bob in December 1942 aged 22.