Norwich and Norfolk is famous for its artists. Men and women from all walks of life we can be proud of.

One of them was Mike Bailey, a quietly spoken gentleman, whose paintings are on display and in books across the world.

I am sad to report that Mike has died just weeks away from his 90th birthday…but he will never be forgotten.

Married to Maureen for almost 65 years they lived in Norwich where Mike produced brilliant paintings of Second World War aircraft.

Many for jumbo-sized books which sold like hot cakes across the United States of America.

Over the years he worked closely with the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library in the city and when former airmen returned to Norfolk and Suffolk where they had been based they wanted to meet and thank him.

(Image: Newsquest)

“Mike was a lifelong friend of the 458th Bomb Group, the Memorial Trust of the 2nd Air Division and the Heritage League,” said Beverly Baynes-Tomb, on behalf of the Memorial Trust which supports the American Library.

“He was an accomplished artist who helped to tell the story of the 2nd Air Division and the 8th Air Force on canvas, and contributed hugely to the work of so many historians and authors over the decades.

“Visiting veterans loved to meet Mike and he was a great supporter of all efforts to keep the memories of the USAAF in WW2 alive,” added Beverly, a past president of the Heritage League, the organisation which represents the children of 2nd Air Division veterans.

And she added: “It was a pleasure to know Mike and I want to convey our condolences to his family and friends in Norfolk and the USA.”

(Image: Newsquest)

David Hastings, past chairman of the Memorial Trust, said: “Mike Bailey was a great friend and it was a pleasure to work with such a superb artist on many projects over the years in support of the 2nd Air Division USAAF and their Association.

“Mike played a leading role in the design and rebuilding of the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library after the tragic fire and he produced all the wonderful B-24 Liberator paintings which are so important. He was also a huge supporter of the B-24  ‘Diamond Lil’ flight to Norwich in 1992. He will be greatly missed,” he said.

He painted around 300 pictures of aircraft, from Britain and America, also produced books on his own and worked closely with Steve Adams, Ron Mackay, Darin Scorza and others.

One publication close to his heart was the huge Liberators Over Norwich; The 458th Bomb Group (H), 8th USAAF at Horsham St Faith.1944-1945.

He grew up in the city during the war and it was the Americans who put a splash of colour into a grim black and white world.

“I was 10 and me and my pal had found a secret way into the airfield,” he said.

“We had expected to be told to clear off but no-one seemed that bothered about us. They were so nice to us. We would climb all over the Liberators. Just watching what was going on. It was another world,” he told me.

He and his mate would sit on haystacks chatting to the these strange-talking airmen…sharing their “candy.”

(Image: Newsquest)

“After all these years I still think about the station most days. The noise, the smell. It is something which never goes away.”

Mike went on to serve in the Army in Egypt before returning to Norwich where he worked as a printer at Jarrolds from 1950 until 1995 and married the love of his life Maureen.

Most nights and weekends he was painting, writing and making sure the memory of American airmen will never be forgotten.

And in 2022 he illustrated the book RAF Bomber Command Strike Hard, Strike Sure, 1939-1945, a companion to RAF Fighter Command: Defence of the Realm three years earlier.

His wife Maureen has asked me to thank everyone who has been in touch following Mike’s death.

*Mike Bailey’s funeral will take place on Friday October 11 at 12.30pm at Earlham Crematorium and there will be a gathering afterwards at The Old Rectory, Crostwick.

(Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Mike Bailey)