Flight Lieutenant Douglas Leitch died in 1945

Sue Raftree, who helped trace the family and organise the trip for the Ministry of Defence, said it had been a fitting send-off.

"It was a very good tribute to a man who died fighting for his life," she said.

"His relatives, Anne and Michael, were moved to tears at times.

We are giving Flt Lt Leitch the honour that was due to him over 55 years ago

Group Captain James Grisdale

Group Captain James Grisdale, the Air Attache at the British Embassy in Rome, laid a wreath at the graveside. He said: "We are giving Flt Lt Leitch the honour that was due to him over 55 years ago.

"He died far from home, only two months before the final campaign to liberate Italy."

Flt Lt Leitch's Spitfire came down after it flew into an explosion as he attacked a supply line for Nazi German troops.

Most of his remains were left out of reach underwater when the Germans flooded the area.

Identification disc

The half-hour service was conducted in Italian and English, and accompanied by a bagpiper from Flt Lt Leitch's own 72 squadron.

His coffin, which contained the identification disc recovered from the scene of the crash, was carried by pallbearers from the 216 Squadron of the Brize Norton TriStar detachment at Ancona.

The discovery of the remains sparked huge interest in the community, with about 150 local people attending the ceremony.

A special exhibition was organised in honour of the pilot to show the sacrifices which were made in liberating Italy from Fascist rule.