Son of William Sanner and Hattie Viola Bailey
Harold served as a Captain, 446th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium, during World War II.
He resided in Harford County, Maryland prior to the war.
Harold died in the "Line Of Duty" of a non-battle related incident during the war.
He was previously awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # O-789844
There is a cenotaph erected in the Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, Maryland in his honor where his brother and parents are buried.
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain Harold M. Merle Bailey, born 22 Sep 1917, was the son of William Sanner and Hattie V. Bailey of Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. Bel Air is in far northeastern Maryland 23 mile northeast of Baltimore.
In the 1920 census 2 year-old Merle (listed as Merle H) is living with his parents and older brother Vinton (5) on the Bel Air to Aberdeen Road in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. His father is a house carpenter. By the 1930 census 13 year-old Merle is living with his parents and siblings Vinton (15), Grace (9) and Harold L. (7) at 400 S Main Street in Bel Air. His father is now a building contractor. In the 1940 census 22 year-old Merle is still living with his parents and all three siblings in Bel Air.
The 321st Bombardment Group, USAAF, was a B-25 group based at Ain M'Lila airfield Algeria from 12 Mar to 1 Jun 1943 when they moved to Souk el-Arba, Tunisia. They fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France, sinking the battleship Strasbourg during that campaign. Between March and May 1943 the group operated against targets in North Africa. In May-June the group took part in the massive bombing campaign that overwhelmed the defenders of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. In July 1943 the group supported the invasion of Sicily.
The NARA WWII Casualty Listings by State and County show Bailey, Harold M., Capt., as DNB (Died Non-Battle). Captain Bailey was killed when his plane crashed near Ain M'Lila on a 128 mile test flight from Souk el-Arba, Tunisia, back to their former base at Ain MLila, Algeria on 30 July 1943. Ain MLila is 256 miles east southeast of Algiers and 253 miles west-southwest of Tunis, Tunisia.
Friday, 30 July 1943 - 446th Bomb Squadron War Diary: Regular combat zone activities. Group mission 98, Sqdn 76 composed of 11 planes led by Lt. Chappell. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Practica di Mare A/D, Italy. The target was well covered. One four-engine transport was set afire and one other aircraft was damaged. 7 or 8 enemy planes attacked the formation after the bomb run but couldnt get in. Lt. Bailey, Lt. Coffey, T/Sgt. Miller, S/Sgt Kniffen, and Cpl. Null were killed in a crash on a test hop near Ain MLila.
A statue honoring Capt. Bailey pictured below is in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, where more than 500 veterans of all wars are laid to rest.
Harold served as a Captain, 446th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium, during World War II.
He resided in Harford County, Maryland prior to the war.
Harold died in the "Line Of Duty" of a non-battle related incident during the war.
He was previously awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # O-789844
There is a cenotaph erected in the Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, Maryland in his honor where his brother and parents are buried.
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain Harold M. Merle Bailey, born 22 Sep 1917, was the son of William Sanner and Hattie V. Bailey of Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. Bel Air is in far northeastern Maryland 23 mile northeast of Baltimore.
In the 1920 census 2 year-old Merle (listed as Merle H) is living with his parents and older brother Vinton (5) on the Bel Air to Aberdeen Road in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. His father is a house carpenter. By the 1930 census 13 year-old Merle is living with his parents and siblings Vinton (15), Grace (9) and Harold L. (7) at 400 S Main Street in Bel Air. His father is now a building contractor. In the 1940 census 22 year-old Merle is still living with his parents and all three siblings in Bel Air.
The 321st Bombardment Group, USAAF, was a B-25 group based at Ain M'Lila airfield Algeria from 12 Mar to 1 Jun 1943 when they moved to Souk el-Arba, Tunisia. They fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France, sinking the battleship Strasbourg during that campaign. Between March and May 1943 the group operated against targets in North Africa. In May-June the group took part in the massive bombing campaign that overwhelmed the defenders of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. In July 1943 the group supported the invasion of Sicily.
The NARA WWII Casualty Listings by State and County show Bailey, Harold M., Capt., as DNB (Died Non-Battle). Captain Bailey was killed when his plane crashed near Ain M'Lila on a 128 mile test flight from Souk el-Arba, Tunisia, back to their former base at Ain MLila, Algeria on 30 July 1943. Ain MLila is 256 miles east southeast of Algiers and 253 miles west-southwest of Tunis, Tunisia.
Friday, 30 July 1943 - 446th Bomb Squadron War Diary: Regular combat zone activities. Group mission 98, Sqdn 76 composed of 11 planes led by Lt. Chappell. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Practica di Mare A/D, Italy. The target was well covered. One four-engine transport was set afire and one other aircraft was damaged. 7 or 8 enemy planes attacked the formation after the bomb run but couldnt get in. Lt. Bailey, Lt. Coffey, T/Sgt. Miller, S/Sgt Kniffen, and Cpl. Null were killed in a crash on a test hop near Ain MLila.
A statue honoring Capt. Bailey pictured below is in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, where more than 500 veterans of all wars are laid to rest.
Son of William Sanner and Hattie Viola Bailey
Harold served as a Captain, 446th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium, during World War II.
He resided in Harford County, Maryland prior to the war.
Harold died in the "Line Of Duty" of a non-battle related incident during the war.
He was previously awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # O-789844
There is a cenotaph erected in the Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, Maryland in his honor where his brother and parents are buried.
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain Harold M. Merle Bailey, born 22 Sep 1917, was the son of William Sanner and Hattie V. Bailey of Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. Bel Air is in far northeastern Maryland 23 mile northeast of Baltimore.
In the 1920 census 2 year-old Merle (listed as Merle H) is living with his parents and older brother Vinton (5) on the Bel Air to Aberdeen Road in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. His father is a house carpenter. By the 1930 census 13 year-old Merle is living with his parents and siblings Vinton (15), Grace (9) and Harold L. (7) at 400 S Main Street in Bel Air. His father is now a building contractor. In the 1940 census 22 year-old Merle is still living with his parents and all three siblings in Bel Air.
The 321st Bombardment Group, USAAF, was a B-25 group based at Ain M'Lila airfield Algeria from 12 Mar to 1 Jun 1943 when they moved to Souk el-Arba, Tunisia. They fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France, sinking the battleship Strasbourg during that campaign. Between March and May 1943 the group operated against targets in North Africa. In May-June the group took part in the massive bombing campaign that overwhelmed the defenders of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. In July 1943 the group supported the invasion of Sicily.
The NARA WWII Casualty Listings by State and County show Bailey, Harold M., Capt., as DNB (Died Non-Battle). Captain Bailey was killed when his plane crashed near Ain M'Lila on a 128 mile test flight from Souk el-Arba, Tunisia, back to their former base at Ain MLila, Algeria on 30 July 1943. Ain MLila is 256 miles east southeast of Algiers and 253 miles west-southwest of Tunis, Tunisia.
Friday, 30 July 1943 - 446th Bomb Squadron War Diary: Regular combat zone activities. Group mission 98, Sqdn 76 composed of 11 planes led by Lt. Chappell. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Practica di Mare A/D, Italy. The target was well covered. One four-engine transport was set afire and one other aircraft was damaged. 7 or 8 enemy planes attacked the formation after the bomb run but couldnt get in. Lt. Bailey, Lt. Coffey, T/Sgt. Miller, S/Sgt Kniffen, and Cpl. Null were killed in a crash on a test hop near Ain MLila.
A statue honoring Capt. Bailey pictured below is in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, where more than 500 veterans of all wars are laid to rest.
Harold served as a Captain, 446th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium, during World War II.
He resided in Harford County, Maryland prior to the war.
Harold died in the "Line Of Duty" of a non-battle related incident during the war.
He was previously awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # O-789844
There is a cenotaph erected in the Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, Maryland in his honor where his brother and parents are buried.
Bio by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain Harold M. Merle Bailey, born 22 Sep 1917, was the son of William Sanner and Hattie V. Bailey of Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. Bel Air is in far northeastern Maryland 23 mile northeast of Baltimore.
In the 1920 census 2 year-old Merle (listed as Merle H) is living with his parents and older brother Vinton (5) on the Bel Air to Aberdeen Road in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. His father is a house carpenter. By the 1930 census 13 year-old Merle is living with his parents and siblings Vinton (15), Grace (9) and Harold L. (7) at 400 S Main Street in Bel Air. His father is now a building contractor. In the 1940 census 22 year-old Merle is still living with his parents and all three siblings in Bel Air.
The 321st Bombardment Group, USAAF, was a B-25 group based at Ain M'Lila airfield Algeria from 12 Mar to 1 Jun 1943 when they moved to Souk el-Arba, Tunisia. They fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France, sinking the battleship Strasbourg during that campaign. Between March and May 1943 the group operated against targets in North Africa. In May-June the group took part in the massive bombing campaign that overwhelmed the defenders of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. In July 1943 the group supported the invasion of Sicily.
The NARA WWII Casualty Listings by State and County show Bailey, Harold M., Capt., as DNB (Died Non-Battle). Captain Bailey was killed when his plane crashed near Ain M'Lila on a 128 mile test flight from Souk el-Arba, Tunisia, back to their former base at Ain MLila, Algeria on 30 July 1943. Ain MLila is 256 miles east southeast of Algiers and 253 miles west-southwest of Tunis, Tunisia.
Friday, 30 July 1943 - 446th Bomb Squadron War Diary: Regular combat zone activities. Group mission 98, Sqdn 76 composed of 11 planes led by Lt. Chappell. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Practica di Mare A/D, Italy. The target was well covered. One four-engine transport was set afire and one other aircraft was damaged. 7 or 8 enemy planes attacked the formation after the bomb run but couldnt get in. Lt. Bailey, Lt. Coffey, T/Sgt. Miller, S/Sgt Kniffen, and Cpl. Null were killed in a crash on a test hop near Ain MLila.
A statue honoring Capt. Bailey pictured below is in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, where more than 500 veterans of all wars are laid to rest.
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