A Dundee-born fighter pilot killed in a second world war dogfight, whose body was not discovered for almost 60 years, will be buried with full honours.

Sergeant John Smart Carmichael’s Spitfire was shot down over Belgium on September 5, 1943, on bomber escort duty. He was only 20 years old.

His body and plane were only unearthed when building started on a site in Nieukapelle, Belgium.

Belgium aviation historian Dirk Decuypere and his recovery team carried out the excavation.

Sergeant Carmichael was born in Dundee to parents Sandy and Carrie and attended Lawside Academy before working at Glaxo Chemicals. He enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1941.

The 129 Squadron operations diary for the fateful day read, “The wing was bounced by 12-plus FW 190s—several combats took place but no claims were made. Sgt Carmichael is missing from this operation —when last seen he was diving to attack an FW190 but seemed to be unaware that there was another on his tail.”

Sgt Carmichael’s next of kin, cousin Mary McQuade, said he had a girl friend who was a nurse at a London hospital and they became engaged shortly before he went missing.

His memorial service and burial will take place in Coxyde Military Cemetery near Veurne, Belgium, on Friday—60 years to the day that he was shot down in action.

Two of his cousins, Mary and Winifred McQuade, who are both in their eighties, will lay a wreath.

Members of the Queen’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force will provide a bearers’ party, and an RAF padre, Fr John Walsh, will lead the service.

A bugler from the Belgian Air Force Band will sound the Last Post and a piper will play a lament. There will be a flypast by two Tornado F3 jets.

As well as giving a reading, Air Marshal Rob Wright, the UK military representative to NATO and the EU, will lay a wreath.