A SECOND World War fighter ace's remains have been discovered in Italy, along with the wreckage of his aircraft, 63 years after he failed to return from his final mission.

Surviving relatives and guests will gather for a sombre ceremony in a military cemetery next month when the remains of decorated flier Desmond Ibbotson are laid to rest.

Flight Lieutenant Ibbotson, DFC and Bar, a Yorkshire-born Spitfire pilot with 11 victories to his credit, died on November 19, 1944. He had celebrated his 23rd birthday less than a month earlier.

The former Harrogate Grammar School pupil was killed when his aircraft plummeted into the ground a few miles south of the Santa Maria D'Angeli, near Assisi, in Italy.

At the time of the crash, those remains that could be found were buried at the Assisi military cemetery in a marked grave.

But an Italian historical research group, Romagna Air Finders, has succeeded in finding more wreckage of the Spitfire, and more remains of Flt Lt Ibbotson.

After a short service at the crash site on June 9, he will be laid to rest with full military honours.

Close family members will join guests from the RAF, Italian air force, local dignitaries and the RAF's Queen's Colour Squadron at the graveside for the rededication service.

His nephew, John Richardson, told The Northern Echo yesterday: "The family are very proud of Desmond and hope the rededication service will be a fitting and appropriate way to bring this chapter to a close."

Flt Lt Ibbotson joined the RAF as an airman in 1940, gaining his wings the following year. His first operational flying tour was with 54 Squadron based at Hornchurch, in Essex.

In June 1942, he was posted to North Africa and survived being shot down the next month.

In November 1942, he was shot down again, crash-landing at an airstrip near Mersah Matruh, which was in German hands.

He was captured by Afrika Korps troops and met General Erwin Rommel. But Flt lt Ibbotson escaped, walked through the night and was escorted back to his squadron by friendly tribesmen.

He was soon back in action but was shot down again in December, again surviving unscathed.