Warrant Officer John Henry Coates (pictured) went missing during a mission in March 1945. His body was discovered 74 years later
A young war hero who was killed when his Spitfire was shot down near Venice 74 years ago has finally be laid to rest during a moving ceremony in Italy.
Warrant Officer John Henry Coates, of 111 Squadron, was declared missing in action after the RAF aircraft he was piloting crashed close to the village of Cavarzere in March 1945.
Seven decades later, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman’s body was discovered in the wreckage of his plane by Italian aviation archaeologists.
WO Coates, known as Harry, has now been given a military funeral which was organised by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and attended by around 22 of his relatives as well as RAF personnel.
He was laid to rest at Padua War Ceremony in Padua, Italy, on Wednesday afternoon following a military parade in Cavarzere, attended by nearly 400 residents.
His niece Helen Watts, 65, whose mother Molly Dearlove was the soldier’s younger sister, said: ‘My mother would have been so pleased.
‘She always hoped while she was alive that he’d be found.
‘It fills me with pride to know that people have gone to such efforts for my uncle. It’s nice to have closure and for him to be given a proper burial. The efforts people have gone to is a bit overwhelming.
She continued: ‘Today has been really emotional. The service was really quite moving. I’d never been to a military funeral before – it’s totally different to a normal funeral.
‘There was about 150 people there, local signatories, RAF personnel and 22 relatives – his nieces and nephews. It was a proper hero’s send-off.’
RAF pallbearers carry Warrant Officer Harry Coates’ coffin as he is put to rest in Italy. The Yorkshireman has now been given a military funeral which was organised by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission
Youngsters Marcus Preston and Nicole Godfrey, relatives of Warrant Officer Coates, lay down a white rose on top of the pilot’s grave
RAF pallbearers with the coffin of Warrant Officer Harry Coates as they lead a procession of relatives and local residents
The coffin for Warrant Officer Coates is carried by RAF pallbearers as they make their way to the pilot’s final resting ground
Offering an emotional display, the relatives of WO Coates, Charlotte Dearlove, Sarah Watts and Shelagh Coates, can’t hold back the tears as they attend the pilot’s funeral
WO Coates, who was born in 1921, had been taking part in the dawn bombing of barges moored on a canal when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire.
His name was engraved on the Malta War Memorial, which features 2,298 names of aircrew who lost their lives around the Mediterranean and who have no known grave.
It was in October 2017 that WO Coates’ remains were discovered by members of the Romagna Air Finders, an organisation which recovers WWII aircraft.
Finally laid to rest: WO Coates of 111 Squadron was declared missing in action after the RAF aircraft he was piloting crashed close to the village of Cavarzere
Around 22 relatives attended the funeral, after an appeal to find his descendants was launched. One of his relatives spotted a story in a local newspaper and thankfully his family finally learnt of his resting place
The town people of Cavarzere out in force to honour the pilot, with local schools and roads all being closed for the day
WO Coates’ coffin is carried by RAF pallbearers along the streets of Cavarzere, Italy, as residents walk behind to show their respect
Niece Shelagh Coates and godson Marcus Preston of Warrant Officer Coates attend the funeral alongside RAF personnel such as Peter Cochrane
An appeal to find his descendants was launched and, after one of his relatives spotted a story in a local newspaper, his family finally learnt of his resting place.
WO Coates, who had no children but three brothers and three sisters, worked as a draughtsman in the Civil Engineers Deptartment of The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in York while living at home with his parents John and Eliza Coates.
Although in a reserved occupation, he chose to volunteer for the RAF and trained as a pilot. By early 1945 he was flying Spitfire Mark 1Xs with 111 Squadron.
A poppy wreath is neatly placed on top of the pilot’s coffin – covered with a Union Jack flag – as a sign of remembrance
WO Coates’ relatives Sarah Watts and Shelagh Coates accept the Union Flag from an official during the burial of the pilot
A priest speaks at the funeral of WO Coates as his body is finally laid to rest, with family members and local residents attending the church service
The Spitfire pilot is carried by RAF pallbearers to Padua War Ceremony in Padua, where he was given a traditional military send-off
He was based near Rimini supporting operations to drive the German forces out of Italy during the Second World War.
On the day of his death he should have been on leave but tragically swapped duties to fly with a team of six RAF Spitfires on a mission to target barges.
WO Coates’ plane was discovered near Cavarzere, which was excavated after the Romagna Air Finders were told by locals an aircraft had crashed there in the 1940s.
Alessandro Voltolina, 48, of Romagna Air Finder, said: ‘We were working on the excavation of a different WWII aircraft when the son of an eyewitness told me where another had crashed.
WO Coates shown standing on the wing of a Spitfire. Seven decades later, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman’s body was discovered in the wreckage of his plane by Italian aviation archaeologists
Shown left is the remains of a boot found amongst the wreckage of the plane, while right is a display from the flight deck
It was in October 2017 that WO Coates’ remains were discovered by members of the Romagna Air Finders, an organisation which recovers WWII aircraft
‘As a result I started a search for that unknown plane. It is always a matter of great satisfaction when you find the location and all your efforts are rewarded.
‘WO Coates is the 6th or 7th pilot I have found. His discovery means he may now rest with all the other youngsters who lost their lives in Italy and are too often forgotten.
‘I hope it means much happiness for his family as now they know where he rests. He has become a pilot killed in action rather than a pilot missing in action. His story now has an ending.’
WO Coates’ plane was discovered near Cavarzere, which was excavated after the Romagna Air Finders were told by locals an aircraft had crashed there in the 1940s
WO Coates had been taking part in the dawn bombing of barges moored on a canal when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire (shown is the aircraft’s engine)
The crash site in Cavarzere, Italy, where the wreckage was unearthed in October 2017