A WW2 Spitfire that crashed just miles from its hero pilot's home has been dug up after 77 years.
Sgt Emrys Ivor Lewis was killed after losing control of his Mark 1 during the Battle Of Britain on 4 July 1940.
On Friday his family watched as the remains of the famous fighter plane was unearthed in a field in South Owersby, Lincs.
Tragically, Sgt Lewis was just 11 miles from his base at RAF Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, Lincs., when he crashed.
He was buried with full military honours in his hometown of Llannerchymedd, Angelsey, North Wales, on July 11, 1940, but the plane's wreckage was left at the scene.
It was buried under 20ft of earth which was painstakingly removed by archaeologists over two before the wreckage — including the famous Rolls Royce Merlin engine — was exhumed.
Military records show Sgt Lewis' Spitfire had been used in the Dunkirk evacuation before defending Britain from the Nazi's aerial onslaught.
Sgt Lewis' niece Beryl Wilson, 82, and her two daughters Karen and Janet made an emotional pilgrimage to witness the recovery of the plane.
Gareth Jones, whose team of archaeologists led the excavation along with a team from Winchester University, said: "It was both emotional and exciting - a truly memorable moment for everyone involved."
A minute's silence was held in memory of Sgt Lewis along with a Spitfire flypast from RAF Duxford.
The excavation was also filmed as part of a documentary which is expected to be shown next year.
A military report into the fatal crash at the time said: "On 4th July 1940 the pilot of this aircraft was undertaking a gunnery training flight and when he was flying in cloud he lost control, the aircraft dived into the ground near Withernsea.
"Sadly he was killed in the resulting crash but the exact location is not yet known."