[Peter Cornwell]

Let us stick to facts rather than speculate. P2701 was allocated to 19MU on 12.3.40 as part of a ‘reserve for fighter squadrons’ eventually being issued to No.85 Squadron on 13.5.40 & subsequently recorded by them as ‘SOC May 1940’. It was CULL (repeated by FRANKS) who originally documented it as ALLEN’s aircraft on 18 May 1940 while HALLEY records it as ‘shot down in Belgium 11 May 1940’. This latter is at odds with its documented movements & also contrary to the AIR81/341 file which lists it thus: ‘F/O D H Allen: missing presumed dead; Hurricane P2701 shot down over Gembloux, France, 15 May 1940’. Still much confusion to resolve here so as I have said, ‘Watch this space’.