THE family of a Spitfire pilot has had the chance to say goodbye for the first time - 76 years after his death.

Pilot Officer Harold Penketh, 20, from Brighton, died in 1940 after crashing in the Cambridge countryside having failed to recover from a dive.

For many years his family had thought he had crashed out at sea.

However, his Spitfire was discovered following a week-long excavation at Holme Lode, the Great Fen, Cambridgeshire, last year.

The aircraft is thought to have come down vertically and was buried several metres into peat.

Investigators believe it exploded underground, killing Mr Penketh instantly.

The Argus covered the story at the time as the Ministry of Defence had failed to track down any of his relatives.

But after reading reports in the press, two family members made contact and plans were put in place for a special remembrance service during which a memorial plaque was laid.

The event took place on Thursday at the crash site and was attended by two of his first cousins Valetta Cranmer, 78, and Sheila Morris, 77.

They unveiled the memorial, which was then dedicated after readings by the Bishop of Huntingdon and others.

Speaking after the service, Mrs Cranmer said: "It's closed a chapter for us actually, because we didn't really know anything about this or where Harold fell. We thought he was lost at sea.

"It has been a rollercoaster since last year but it's been wonderful and we feel very honoured and proud."

Also at the service was Maxey Stacey, now 86, who saw the Spitfire crash when he was ten years old.

He said it felt "strange and sad", but it was a pleasure to meet relatives of Mr Penketh.

He recalled seeing the Spitfire climbing before breaking formation from two other planes.

"There was a revving sound and it spiralled down," he said.

Mr Penketh's initialled cigarette case and watch were found in the crash site in 2015, along with some skeletal remains that were laid to rest last year in Brighton's Woodvale Crematorium.

His Spitfire X4593, of 266 Rhodesian Squadron Royal Air Force, was based at RAF Wittering.

The cause of the crash is not known, but it is thought a failure of the plane's oxygen system may have contributed.