[6] Between 9 March and 30 April 1928, Bailey made an 8,000 mi (7,000 nmi; 13,000 km) solo flight from Croydon to Cape Town, flying a Cirrus-engined de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moth with an extra fuel tank which gave an endurance of about 10 hours.
[citation needed] The return journey involved flying across the Belgian Congo, then along the southern edge of the Sahara and up the west coast of Africa, then across Spain and France back home again.
[13] Bailey also attained the rank of Section Officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, during World War II.
[3] Working closely with Gertrude Caton-Thompson and Elinor Wight Gardner, Bailey was able to take aerial photographs which presented an expansive overview of the archaeological site within just two weeks.
[3] In 1930 Lady Bailey was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) and awarded the Britannia trophy for meritorious performance in the air.
[2] She married the South African mining magnate, financier, and politician Abe Bailey on 5 September 1911 at the age of 20.