From 1937 Bayley was a member of the RAFVR, and was one of its pilots selected for six months of training with the RAF, in his case with No 32 Squadron.
On 6 September 1939 Sergeant Bayley joined the squadron full time. He destroyed a Bf 109 on 8 June 1940, shared a Do 17 on 3 July, probably destroyed a Bf 110 on the 20th, damaged a Do 17 on 12 August, damaged a Bf 110 on the 16th and claimed a Do 17 destroyed and a Bf 110 damaged on the 18th.
He was posted to No 249 Squadron at North Weald on 17 September. He was killed on 10 October when his Hurricane crashed at Shades House, Cooling Marsh, on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent during a routine patrol. The cause of the crash was not established. It may have been the result of Bayley losing consciousness because of oxygen failure, but it is more likely that he was shot down.
He is buried in St Luke’s Cemetery, Bromley, Kent.
