In 2013, he was awarded the Air Medal by the President of the United States "in recognition of meritorious, gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan".[8] In February 2015, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field during the period 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014".[9] He received the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2018.
Bailey was promoted to wing commander on 30 August 2016.[10] In 2020, he was officer commandingNo. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing as part of Operation Shader.[11] In May 2021, he became officer commanding No. LXX (70) Squadron RAF which operated the Airbus A400M Atlas.[12] He was the detachment commander of the deployed Air Mobility Forces during Operation Pitting, the UK's military operation to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans from Kabul Airport, Afghanistan.[13] It was his decision to double the number of passengers taken per flight, as the risk of overloading the aircraft was outweighed by the risk to the lives of those who would have been left behind.[14]
^"Recording: The RAF Experience During Op PITTING". rusi.org. The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2024. Wing Commander Calvin Bailey, the Detachment Commander of the deployed Air Mobility Forces as part of Op PITTING overseeing the flying operations