[3] Baylies volunteered for the Ambulance Corps in May 1916 and originally saw service on the Western Front and in Serbia and Salonika.

[2] His initial posting, on November 17, 1917, was to Escadrille 73 as a Corporal; he was the 13th member of the squadron, and was assigned airplane number 13.

It was sparked by a disagreement between René Fonck on one hand, and Baylies and his friend Edwin C. Parsons on the other.

Although Fonck's three dozen victories spoke for themselves, the American duo believed that his attitudes in his actual speech was atrocious.

Understanding the importance of reconnaissance planes, with their potential to direct intensive artillery fire onto French troops, Fonck concentrated his attentions upon them; six shot down within a three-hour span proved it.

[1] Baylies and his wingmen tried to join a formation of rotary engined fighters in the belief they were British Sopwiths.

At the last moment, he realized they were Fokker Dr.I triplane fighters; he stood his SPAD XII on a wingtip and turned away.