Formerly "Missing" RAF Fighter Pilot Honoured – France, 20 July 2012

Rather interestingly, this ‘sensitive casualty information’ has long been due for public release to the National Archives. In fact, it should have been released long ago (a file reference already exists for it at The National Archives, Kew) but the MOD are dragging their heels on its release and, apparently, “weeding” the files. Thus, they are still the gatekeepers (Nachtjagd’s word!) of this information and AHB, bizarrely, now redact information such as aircrew names from any historical information they might supply to third parties.

If (when) files like the one that identified Derek Allen go on public release there are dozens, if not hundreds, of cases that could be solved. And I am not talking about excavation/recovery, either. Just simply a case of looking at the records and putting together the bits of the jigsaw puzzles that were left in their boxes c.1946/47. And we wouldn’t even need a picture on the lid to help us.

I fear you are tilting at windmills xtango. The folks at the JCCC at Innsworth station (or whatever it’s called these days) who act as gatekeepers of this sensitive casualty information are, first & foremost, MOD Civil Servants who value their jobs. As such they are obligated to follow MOD policies & guidelines. And, as is commonly known, these policies frown on private enterprise seeking lost aircrew, regardless of location. Understandably, there are those who who will hold up the work of certain key figures in the industry as worthy of official recognition, perhaps even a form of partnership. However, not only do these key figures gain at least some form of financial advantage out of it (e.g. magazine articles, books & TV appearances) but it would simply open a pandora’s box of the inevitable cries of favouritism and inequality of treatment from those deemed unworthy of such an honour. So perhaps things are best left as they are.

Now I’ve heard it all…Tilting windmills my ar.e !!..I don’t think your sails are even turning !!

‘gatekeepers of this sensitive casualty information’
If they knew so much, why was F/o Allen left as ‘unknown ‘ for so many years?

‘MOD Civil Servants who value their jobs’
If they valued their jobs they would have sorted out F/o Allen’s name a long time ago, and cooperated with worthwhile information offered to them nearly three years ago.

‘As such they are obligated to follow MOD policies & guidelines. And, as is commonly known, these policies frown on private enterprise seeking lost aircrew, regardless of location’.
Why??

‘not only do these key figures gain at least some form of financial advantage out of it (e.g. magazine articles, books & TV appearances)’
Do the MOD Civil Servants get paid for what they do, or do they find nobody for nothing ?

‘So perhaps things are best left as they are’
The best sentence of your post. We will carry on as before, and wherever it takes us, you can check with the relatives and ask their opinion.

Nachtjagd

If you look at #4 you will see that I stated that the most important thing, and all that really mattered here, was that the family now know where Derek lies.

Nobody set out to get any credit here, and I certainly sought none. My only surprise was that the MOD imply that it was simply their pro-active research that ‘found’ poor old Fg Off Allen DFC. Nothing could be further from the truth, and a goodly number of people came together to achieve this result that was worked on as a partnership with the family, local mayor, Gendarmerie and CWGC and with detailed reports on findings etc fed through to the MOD. That they should give no recognition of this is a poor show, in my humble opinion. Nobody sought any credit or praise; the MOD simply ‘claimed’ it. However, I reiterate; the most important issue is that Derek Allen was found for his family. Despite an astonishing volume of work to achieve this, I am pleased and proud to have played a part in doing so. It is the least one can do for men like Derek Allen.

Hi Nachtjagd,
You obviously have a very good understanding of how the ‘system’ works.
As an ex-Luftwaffe officer based in Germany, do you have first-hand experience of dealing with a case like this that you can tell us about?
Ed

I fear you are tilting at windmills xtango. The folks at the JCCC at Innsworth station (or whatever it’s called these days) who act as gatekeepers of this sensitive casualty information are, first & foremost, MOD Civil Servants who value their jobs. As such they are obligated to follow MOD policies & guidelines. And, as is commonly known, these policies frown on private enterprise seeking lost aircrew, regardless of location. Understandably, there are those who who will hold up the work of certain key figures in the industry as worthy of official recognition, perhaps even a form of partnership. However, not only do these key figures gain at least some form of financial advantage out of it (e.g. magazine articles, books & TV appearances) but it would simply open a pandora’s box of the inevitable cries of favouritism and inequality of treatment from those deemed unworthy of such an honour. So perhaps things are best left as they are.

Its a funny old world.

I find it quite appalling and frankly rude of any report on F/o Allen, written by or on behalf of the MOD, that does not include some gratitude and recognition of the painstaking investigation by AS.
In the early days of his 2/3 years of research, his theories were virtualy dimissed, but Andy’s persistance and determination eventually succeeded in changing minds and made the celebrated day possible.
To whom it may concern…’Credit where credit is due please’

I might be being generous, but it’s probably nothing more than positive MOD media people being given crap information by their colleagues elsewhere (who are the actual source of the problem!)

MOD’s record in this area remains the polar opposite of the US. I follow the JPAC team’s searches on the flickr photo site. They are everywhere. We really have no excuse. The CWGC however has my full respect.

I’ll look out for the Britain at War edition.

Indeed so, Pat. And thank you, as well, for your comment.

Lets hope we can continue to achieve closure on other outstanding cases.

There is some irony in the fact that MOD/AHB seem to be claiming they had solved the case by checking their records and yet, ordinarily, the MOD are generally opposed to such research and investigation leading to the solving of cases like this. And yet, in this case, they are happy to take the credit!

Its a funny old world.

Lest us hope that all these young men can be found and given due respect they should have.
Thank you Andy.

I couldn’t have put it better myself!

Allen

Hi Andy,

Yep, I did notice that. Came up on the FB feed for RAF site.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/missing-no-more-20072012

Look forward to reading the full story.

regards

Mark

New Headstone

The new headstone for the previously missing Fg Off Derek Allen DFC with its poignant inscription from the family.

“In memory of our valiant and long-lost brother, uncle and kinsman”

The RAF News link to this story:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/missing-no-more-20072012

It does rather continue the CWGC message that all of this was brought about by the MOD/AHB suddenly ‘discovering’ the facts in their archives. The truth of the story, and the journey of discovery that led to this end result, is rather a little more involved than that! However, the (real!) full story in the edition of “Britain at War” due to be published around 24 August.

The main thing, for all concerned, is that the family now know where Derek rests. But…..!!

Thank you.

I note that the CWGC news site does not mention the burial of the “unknown” airman yesterday.

http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/allen.aspx

Also, and slightly disingenuously (although I am not suggesting this originates with the CWGC) but it is stated that Derek Allen’s grave was discovered “due to research work carried out by the MOD Air Historical Branch.”

Whilst it is true that AHB dug out ‘closed’ casualty reports to identify the grave as Allen’s their was a reactive approach after the case was raised with them, not a pro-active one as might be suggested by the CWGC news item. There is a slight economy of the facts, here. The case was solved by the work of several private individuals, including the location of Allen’s next-of-kin.

Lest us hope that all these young men can be found and given due respect they should have.
Thank you Andy.