Missing airman : RAF matricule 48949

[arnaud]

Andy,

I have just checked my archive for this Lysander at Neuvilly.

I have a complete report from Red Cross with full detail of that Lysander. But there is a big problem because the Lysander I have at Neuvilly is NOT P/O Clifford’s one (buried at Neuvilly) but LAC Bettany’s one (buried at Landrecies)!

So to sum up at Neuvilly we have:

1. Hurricane No. P3533 : Unknow pilot. this one is confirmed by many documents.
2. Hurricane No. P2555 : (identified apparently as P/O Allen) for that one I have not one single information.
3. Lysander No. ??? : LAC Bettany, I have a full report with a firm identification as for instance a letter of his mother of April 25 1940 found among other things.
4. Lysander no. ??? : P/O Clifford for that one I have not one single information.

I find those identifications in Red at Neuvilly weird… Just a general feeling.

[arnaud]

The Red Cross report says the other airman in P/O Bettany’s Lysander run away from the crash site wounded.

But by checking British archive, LAC Bettany and P/O Clifford were in the same aircraft.

So P/O Clifford died near Landercies : one unique Lysander and not two…

[arnaud]

So to sum up

1. LAC Bettany buried at Neuvilly (in the place where is buried actually P/O Clifford at Neuvilly) : I have the full report from Red Cross who identified the dead body at Neuvilly as Bettany and not Clifford.

2.P/O Clifford buried at Landrecies (in the place where is buried actually LAC Bettany at Landrecies) : the one mentioned in the Red Report leaving the crash site wounded and finally died at a hospital at Landrecies.

Identifications are wrongs according to my Red Cross report.

[Andy Saunders]

So, your Red Cross evidence is that the graves of Clifford and Bettany are switched? If I understand you correctly, then you have the wrong headstones over the graves?? Clifford is Bettany and vice-versa?

I cannot add anything of any substance, I'm afraid, just to say that it might be as well to submit your information and evidence to the MOD here in the UK. I'm sure they will have a look at these cases and refer the matter on to the AHB and examine Cas. files if appropriate. If this results in confirmation then they will, as a matter of course, notify the CWGC to change the headstones.

It does seem very strange, I must say.

[arnaud]

Très cher Andy,

Absolutely for Bettany at Neuvilly…

But those French documents could be very wrong... I do not ask anything to anybody and absolutely not changing the headstone. This document from Red Cross is just a stone to put on the way to the truth…

If you have anything to add, I would be very pleased to read it… There are many many historical mistakes specially for Battle of France...

Bye


Arnaud

[Andy Saunders]

Fascinating and intriguing.

There seem to be many mysteries in and around Neuvilly!

I would suggest you submit a report with supporting evidential documents to the MOD.

[Andy Saunders]

Arnaud

Did you submit those details to the MOD/JCCC in the UK?

I'd be interested, by the way, to know the source of the documents you have scanned and posted here. Can you share that information with us?

Meanwhile, I was in the area last week so called in at Poix-du-Nord Cemetery and took a photograph of the (current) headstone above Fg Off D H Allen's grave pending its replacement with a named headstone.

[Andy Saunders]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9086...lly-found.html

[Peter Cornwell]

Andy,

Many congratulations in seeing this case through to a most satisfactory conclusion. The family will, I know, be delighted with the outcome. Good job - well done to all concerned.

PS I now have a new shovel.

[arnaud]

Hello,

I have too a new shovel but French historians are banned to dig aircraft by DRAC Nord - Pas-de-Calais. It seems so easy for you, British historians, to dig a/c in the North of France. You are so lucky. But this DRAC Nord - Pas-de-Calais is not fair with French historians. I do not understand this politic against French historians... But I confirm to people in the world: French historians want also to work on that kind of subject. But unfortunately doors are closed for us.

I have worked on the Hurricane at Neuvilly and could not identify this pilot. This is indeed a Hurricane No. P3533 shot down around May 18th 1940: no doubt. But what about the pilot? How did you identify him? I do not trust 100 % a/c number to identify a pilot, but trust you and the RAF...

You dig this aircraft and have information... So would it be possible to have some details given evidence to identify this pilot. I have a direct witness saying that Allen was shot down in Belgium so I am lost...

I hope you could give us some more useful details.

Thank you for helping.

Bye