THE MYSTERY surrounding the final resting place of a young wartime fighter pilot – the uncle of a retired Petersfield wing commander – is to be unravelled for Remembrance.

The fascinating story of Philip Cormack, of the Royal Flying Corps, who was shot down in 1918 and recorded as never found, will be told on ITV?on November 10 and 11.

His nephew, Paul Cormack (79), of Merritts Meadow, with Amanda Harwood, of Petersfield Museum, will help piece together the poignant 96-year-old tale.

It had always been distressing for the family of the courageous 19-year-old second lieutenant of the RAF’s 204 squadron to not know of his body’s whereabouts.

Paul Cormack was still none the wiser when he loaned items belonging to his uncle to Petersfield Museum for exhibitions marking the centenary of the First World War earlier this year.

But education and outreach officer Amanda began delving when she found out he was not listed, as previously thought, on the Arras Flying Service Memorial commemorating those with no grave. He was in fact buried in a French military cemetery in Belgium.

An aviation researcher had spotted his was the only English name in the cemetery, and contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission about his find.

In 2013, the French cross on his grave was replaced with a Commonweath headstone. In the news report, Paul and family members visit the grave for the first time, and lay a wreath at the spot in the Somme, France, where he was shot down.

“It has been very moving, and satisfying to piece the story together,” said Paul.

The films will be on Meridian News.