'We had removed various parts of the aircraft when we started to find human remains. 'All our research pointed us to this site for the other Spitfire. He said: 'The pilot of the Parker Pen Spitfire bailed out and that plane came down about two weeks before or after Sgt Smith’s. He and a film crew from the Discovery History Channel were searching for a Spitfire that had been donated by the Parker Pen Company at the time. Historian Andy Saunders, from Hastings, East Sussex, found Sgt Smith’s remains last November during the excavation of farm land. It is thought he was either killed on rendered unconscious in the cockpit and his plane kept flying until it crashed. Sgt Smith was last sighted at 20,000ft in combat with a number of Fw 190s and wasn’t seen again. ![]() On their return to England the squadron was attacked by up to 30 Fock-Wulf Fw 190s midway between Mardyck and Dover. Send-off: This image shows an identification disc belonging to Sgt Smith He was stationed at Redhill in Surrey with 457 Squadron and on May 9, 1942, his Spitfire helped escort a number of Boston bombers in a raid over northern France. Sgt Smith joined the Royal Australian Air Force before going off to war in 1941. 'It was very sad because it was a funeral but there was also a sense of relief for the family and final closure for my father.' Mark Smith, 55, the nephew of Sgt Smith, said: 'It was a very emotional day for the family. The hymn Abide With Me was sung at the ceremony and a lone bugler also played the Last Post. Sgt Smith’s coffin was given a guard of honour when it arrived at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission section of Cassel cemetery. Two of his sisters, Elma and Jean, died last year just months before their brother’s body was found. Sgt Smith was one of five brothers and sisters from Melbourne, Australia, but Bert Smith is the only surviving sibling. The brave pilot finally has a resting place after 70 years of mystery He said afterwards that he was at last at peace, adding: 'I know where he is. 'Return now Bill to the soil of France which has held you to her bosom and hidden you from us for all these years. 'How sad that his mother who lived for another 40 years after he was killed was never able to hear those words that would have told her that her beloved son was found. ![]() 'Bill, you will always be to us that dashing handsome fighter pilot who gave his life for us, for his family, for his country and for the people of France.
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