FRENCH villagers who have been tending the grave of a Hanley Castle airman since 1942 want to trace his family.

Residents of Pcy, east of Paris, are said to be so grateful for the service of Allied crews, like those in downed Short Sterling bomber, they want to pass on their thanks.

One of the men who died in the crash was 21-year-old Joseph William Wheildon, son of Joseph and Mabel Wheildon from Hanley Castle.

Helping the villagers is one of two survivors of the crash, who now lives in Canada. Flt Lt Maurice Low was the navigator of the Sterling's seven-man crew, while Sgt Wheildon was the mid-upper gunner.

The plane, based at RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire, was shot down near Pcy on November 30, 1942.

"On the fatal night we were returning to base after attacking an aircraft factory at Turin, Italy," said Mr Low. "This was our fifth operation to Italian targets."

After the crash, Mr Low was captured by the Germans, sprung from prison by the French resistance and captured again attempting to cross the Pyrenees.

He says for some years he has been in touch with the people of Pcy, who are grateful for the efforts of the Allied armed forces and have looked after the graves of the fallen fliers.

"They have now asked me to assist them in trying to locate relatives of these men so they can express their gratitude and sympathies personally.

"We all realise that many years have passed and ageing might have taken close relatives, but there might be brothers or sisters or cousins or nephews who would appreciate hearing from these French citizens," he said.

"The residents of Pcy and district would like very much to be able to arrange a gathering of the relatives and they would be very graciously received," he said.

Anyone related to Joseph Weildon can ring Robert Hale at the Gazette on 01684 892200.