New 80th anniversary World War II plaque on Walney Island

Among the victims was James Lenaghan, 21, one of three Air Gunners in the Avro Anson LT778 that crashed in the mid-air collision on May 31 1943 while returning to RAF Walney after completing a training exercise.

His proud grandson Mark Haywood, 58, a retired scaffolder from Barnsley, has now built a new plaque to commemorate 80 years since his passing.

Mr Haywood said: “I don’t have any memories of my grandad because he died before my mum was born but I’m so incredible proud of him and to everyone else who was in the plane. I’ve been to all of the graves and looked into their stories.

“On Remembrance Weekend we always say, ‘We Will Remember Them’, but I think he seems to have got brushed under the carpet. I think my grandad was completely forgotten about. There wasn’t a photograph or any information. I did this because I wanted him to be remembered."

Also killed in the accident was pilot Sgt Charles Anderton, Air Gunner Instructor Edwin Creed, along with fellow Air Gunners Harry Hudson and Fred Wilson.

Nowadays Mr Haywood enjoys exploring other crash sites in his spare time, paying tribute to other RAF pilots who lost their lives during World War II.

“My brother and I often go to the Lake District and the Peak District laying poppies or aluminium crosses,” he added.

“We’ve been to Scotland and Snowdonia in Wales too. I guess you could say it’s turned into a hobby, but it never used to be. I do it to remember those that have been lost in the hills out in the middle of nowhere.

“I’ve always liked to exercise and finding more about my grandad sparked my interest. I recently went on a 16-mile hike to find four crash sites. There was a Spitfire, a Lockheed Hudson and a Vickers Wellington.”