A German World World II fighter plane containing the remains of its pilot is to be dug up later this week from the field near Modena where it crashed 63 years ago.
The plane, a Messerschmitt BF109, plunged into the ground after being shot down near the village of Mirandola on 5 September 1944 during a dogfight with Allied bombers.
A group of volunteers using metal detectors recently found the fighter plane lying at a depth of between three and five metres.
On Friday the remains of the pilot will be recovered and prepared for burial. A ceremony with a bugle call has been scheduled to pay last respects to the pilot, who has been identified but whose name is being kept secret.
The following day the aircraft will be dug out of the ground in the presence of officials from the German and Italian air forces.
