Remains of the US P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber were unearthed on August 8, 2015 in Ottersweier, in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. The plane crashed on February 14, 1945 on the outskirts of the town of Baden killing a 25-year-old French pilot Antoine Allard from Paris, just 10 weeks before the end of the war in Europe. The location of the crash had long been known, and marked by a monument.

[Via www.swr.de]

Remains were found four metres below ground in an orchard and unearthed by Uwe Benkel, an amateur researcher in World War 2 crash sites and German history buff. Near to the wreckage of World War II US fighter were found the remains of the young French pilot inside, DPA news agency reported.

Uwe Benkel, who initiated and organized the excavation of the American fighter bomber 'Thunderbolt P-47', kneels in front of recovered remains [Via www.epa.eu]

German and French soldiers along with helpers recover parts of the American fighter bomber 'Thunderbolt P-47' [Via www.epa.eu]

French soldiers (R) stand next to a French national flag during a memorial event after the excavation of the American fighter bomber 'Thunderbolt P-47' [Via www.epa.eu]

A general view shows the recovered remains of the American fighter bomber 'Thunderbolt P-47' as excavation helpers operate in the background [Via www.epa.eu]

German soldiers salute in front of a French flag during a memorial event after the excavation of the American fighter bomber 'Thunderbolt P-47' [Via www.epa.eu]

German soldiers placed a French flag and flowers on the site, to a crowd of several dozen onlookers. Allard’s remains will be interred at an as-yet unidentified cemetery, DPA news agency reported.