Quorn grave of WW2 airman Sgt Donald Payne rededicated

The grave of a World War Two airman killed in action has been rededicated after a case of mistaken identity.

Sgt Donald Payne's body washed ashore in Essex after a Wellington bomber crashed into the sea in 1940.

However, he was mistakenly identified as missing airman Alfred Payne, from Quorn, Leicestershire, and buried in the village.

The mistake was researched by author Michael Speight and was recently confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.

Flt Sgt Alfred Payne was reported missing after a flight in 1940 but after the war it emerged that he had been shot down over France and buried there.

Mr Speight said: "What I discovered, through months of research, was that an airman had gone missing around about the same time, September, and his name was Sgt Donald Payne.

"I put two and two together and worked out it was a case of mistaken identity."

Sgt Payne's grave was rededicated during a ceremony at Quorn Baptist Church.