Bulgarian Aviator Ivan Milanov

Once again I am back with a question. In researching the Bulgarian Air Force, I have come across a letter from the Bulgarian National Army Museum dated March 12, 1964. The letter discusses the life of the Bulgarian Pilot Ivan Milanov and talks of an engagement carried out on March 31, 1918 and states: "On March 31, 1918, he ( Milanov ) fought a violent fight with an English airplane of the Armstrong type, in which its English pilot perished. The pilotless plane, with two other pilots ( crew members? ) aboard, crashed and disintegrated."
My question is can anyone shed light on this air action along with the identity of the Englsih aircraft type, unit, location of this action, and names of crew involved. Once again I thank all of you who have assisted me in my previous postings. This is truly a great forum. Thank you for your consideration. JF

[PeterL]

I guess the aircraft must be an Armstrong Whitworth and, in that theatre and despite the late date, more likely an AW FK3 rather than FK8. Both of those are two seaters, though a FK3 fuselage modified to 3 seat configuration was used as an airship gondola at Imbros.

Peter L

[rammjaeger]

Hi Josef,

I was writing last week a letter with the intend to contact a Bulgarian Aviation historian. If I succeed (I hope the given address was right.) and Mr Petrov replies than I could give you the contact too if you want to have this connection.

Peter,

Thank you for the info. Do you have any idea what unit(s) in the Balkans used this aircraft and if they suffered any losses on or around this date. Thanks again.

Joe