THE body of a missing airman may finally be returned to his native North-East - 60 years after he was shot down over Occupied Europe.

Sergeant Charles Rowland Metcalfe, from Darlington, was part of a seven-strong Halifax bomber crew that set off from Middleton-St-George airbase, in June 1942.

Its destination was the German port of Bremen, but less than two hours into its flight the plane was intercepted and shot down over Holland by a German night fighter.

Three men died and two survived the crash.

But the bodies of two others, Sgt Metcalfe and pilot Flight Sergeant John Walter Stell were never found.

Now a Dutch organisation, the Aircraft Recovery Group Foundation 1940-45, claims to have pinpointed the site of the wreckage, in a meadow in the village of Saint Maartenvloutbrug, near Alkmaar.

It hopes to track down the next of kin for permission to recover the bodies of Sgt Metcalfe and Flt Sgt Stell for a military funeral in England.

But the group must first have the permission of the person who owns the field - a Dutch woman who said that she witnessed the crash - before it can begin a dig.

The Dutch authorities are also thought to regard the site as a war grave and any dig would be at their discretion.

Parts of the Mk II R9457 bomber, used by 76 squadron, are believed to have been taken away by the Germans, although some of the wreckage was left behind.

Sgt Metcalfe, who may have been a gunner or navigator, and Flt Sgt Stell were never accounted for.

All that is known of Sgt Metcalfe is that he was 28 years old, the names of his parents were Charles Edwin and Jane Annie, and his service number was 1010560.

The two men who survived the crash, Sergeants LRC Cockburn and DH Nelson, were arrested and became prisoners of war.

The three bodies that were recovered - of Sergeants Ronald Greenwood, William Archer and Douglas Perry Brooks - are now buried in Bergen General Cemetery, in Holland.

Cees Broere, of the aircraft recovery group, said: "There are about 2,000 allied aircraft which came down during the Second World War still in Holland. Of those, about 400 still contain human remains or possibly bombs.

"In this case, the missing men should still be inside the wreck.

"We wish to give both a decent burial, but we know that, so many years after the war, this is still a very sensitive subject.

"We are dealing with people's lives here and the most important thing is the emotional and personal story of the crew members."

David Parker, of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said it would not wish to encourage the disturbance of remains and anyone contemplating doing so would have to consult local authorities.

* Anyone with information about Charles Metcalfe or John Stell is asked to contact The Northern Echo on (01325) 505064 or 505074, or e-mail sarnoldgs 217