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Aviva
UK News

Pilot killed after Spitfire accident 75 years ago finally laid to rest in church

by Antony Bushfield

Harold Edwin Penketh's remains were discovered during the filming of the popular BBC programme Countryfile.

He failed to eject from his aircraft when it came down in Cambridgeshire during a training mission.

His remains were discovered when archaeologists dug the aircraft, which crashed at Holme on 22 November 1940.

Pilot Officer Penketh, of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, was only 20 years old when he was killed.

At the time, in accordance with his parent's wishes, his remains that were found at the time were cremated at Brighton Woodvale Crematorium.

Later his ashes scattered at the Church of St Peter West Blatchington, Hove.

Now the same church will see the scattering of the rest of his remains that have been found.

The service at the Crematorium will be attended by members of the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre who organised the burial and those who participated in the excavation.

Revd Daniel Smith, Priest at St Peter's Church, West Blatchington who himself served for 4 years in the US Air Force in Cambridgeshire, said the parish was deeply touched by the story of Pilot Officer Penketh as it unfolded during the week before Remembrance Day.

He added: "A tragedy which took place decades ago still has the power to stir the emotions, and we are pleased and privileged to be able to help bring a sense of closure to these events."

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