A war hero from West Norwood who was killed when his plane crashed more than fifty years ago is to be given a full burial after his remains, found in dense Malaysian rainforest, were formally identified.

RAF navigator Geoff Carpenter, from Roxburgh Road, West Norwood was 23 when his RAF Dakota KN630 crashed due to a mechanical fault in Malaysia in 1950.

The flight navigator, who joined the air force aged 16, was killed alongside 11 others, and his body lay undiscovered in the jungle for more than 55 years.

Five decades later his brother Dennis, 82, will fly to the South-East Asian country for his burial after a 150-man expedition into the jungle recovered his body and forensically identified it.

Mr Carpenter, who lives in Croydon, said: "Of course it will be strange. He left home so young I never knew him fully but we were always determined to see him properly buried. We could have gone out before now but we had no-where to visit."

Mr Carpenter, who will be accompanied by his daughter Christine, said the family was told of the death by a call from the ministry of defence, but received a letter from Geoffrey the day later.

He said: "That was a terrible blow. It didn’t seem real."

They will receive the Elizabeth Cross given to the next of kin of UK Armed Forces personnel in recognition of those who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism.

Days after Geoffrey died, a land regiment made it to the site but was unable to move the bodies and was forced to dig a quick grave for the victim.

A flyover service was held and crosses and wreathes were dropped over the site.

In 2008, following representations made to the Malaysian authorities by Mr Carpenter to track down his brother, and in November 2008, a 150-strong team of Malaysian military, police and specialist forensic archaeologists recovered human remains, confirmed as the crew and passengers of the Dakota.

The remains will be buried at the Cheras Road Commonwealth Grave Cemetery outside Kuala Lumpur on March 15.

Mr Carpenter said: "I am grateful to everyone who has helped to finally give my brother a proper burial."