Man arrested over war pilot's grave robbery

Robbers dug a wartime pilot from his aircrash resting place to steal his personal possessions, then dumped his remains in a plastic bag.

Flying Officer Ted Kosh's family believed they buried him in a Kent cemetery more than 50 years ago.

But, following his crash near Winchelsea, East Sussex, rescuers had actually only managed to find his severed legs.

Now one person has been arrested and others questioned about digging up the rest of his body in 1995, and stealing possessions and parts of the Tempest fighter plane.

Both the wreckage and Mr Kosh's coffin are being exhumed later today to help with the enquiry.

In a legal first, a man has been charged with disturbing human remains under legislation banning the plunder of military graves.

Ted's younger sister Elizabeth, who is in her 60s, said: "Everyone in our family believed my brother was buried in a cemetery. I remember my parents tending his grave and placing fresh flowers on his grave every Sunday for years until they died."

Mr Kosh crashed as he chased a V1 flying bomb in July 1944, said reports.

Fifty-one years later plunderers tore the flying wings off his tunic and robbed his body of an amulet bracelet, medal ribbon and coins.

They then hid what was left of the pilot in a plastic bin bag under topsoil, police believe.

The farmer who owned the site was tricked into believing the thieves were carrying out an authorised excavation.

Defence Ministry police only learned of the grim crime after a tip-off three months ago.

Mr Kosh's personal items were recovered from a house.

Trophies from his aircraft are believed to have been sold to collectors.

The MoD officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Frank Mason said: "This is the first inquiry of its kind in the UK. We believe human remains will be discovered at the exhumation."

Andrew Saunders, 46, of Hastings, East Sussex, has been charged under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.