[Pieter H]

Andy, Arnaud,

Very interesting thread this one.
Still I am on some details now even more confused.

The serial of F/O Derek Allen was so far given by Cull (12 Days in May) and Peter Cornwell (TBoFTaN) as P2701. Andy now gives P2555. Where do you base this on?

Then the P3533 at Neuvilly.
The documents provided by Arnaud seem to confirm quite firmly the code, location and date. The challenge is then to match this wreck with a name and squadron.

If I go through my list there is effectively only one a/c that was shot down, crashed at an unknown location and where the pilot went missing on May 18. F/O Derek Allen!

The others are for completeness;
56/B Sqn N2439 F/O Rose at Brebieres
56/B Sqn N2430 F/Lt Soden at Briache-St-Vaast
111/B sqn L2501 F/Lt Darwood at Mons
229/B Sqn L1802 P/O Dillon at Mons
607 Sqn P2536 F/O Weatherill at Seranvillers

All these 5 seem to be well confirmed in terms of a/c serial and location, which then only leaves Allen as the possible candidate ?!
I do have the location of the fight of No 85 Sqn in which Alan was lost as over Le Cateau, which is a good match with Neuvilly, just a few miles north.

But then the implication is that there is a third possible a/c serial for Allen's aircraft: P2701 or P2555 or P3533.

Regards, Pieter