In November 1950, his former superior officer, now Major General Field Harris, and commanding general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea, requested Bailey to be his chief of staff. He succeeded Colonel Kenneth H. Weir and took part in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the subsequent Hungnam evacuation, Bailey was responsible for supervising and coordinating the activities of the Wing's staff and was later charged with supervising the construction of K-1 Airfield and the design of Wing facilities at that field.