I absolutely loved Stewart's gentleness in explaining to Eric what happened to his half-brother.

I just saw an interview with Roman History expert Guy de la Bedoyere. Out of all his TT experiences he said this one was by far the best and most memorable. Because living witnesses made it so real.

I have been watching all the Time Team episodes, but this is the first one that made me cry ... when the old gentleman was given his step-brother's jacket chain ... then the old fellow died a few weeks later ... it just got to me ... thanks for all your hard work, gents and ladies ...

My uncle, 2Lt Milton Herman Reestman, was a navigator on an American B 29 that disappeared while on a "search and rescue mission" over the Coral Sea near New Guinea on February 2, 1944 and has never been found. Unfortunately, my mother, who adored her older brother all her life, died at 93; never finding out what had really happened to him. The telegrams to my grandfather from a general in the War Department are heartbreaking. This wonderful, old man's chance at finding closure was nice to see. I cried.

Almost like the old gent was just hanging on long enough to find out what happened to his brother. Very emotional episode, and as always fantastically done by Time Team

The end left me in tears... Well done lads. Major Richard Hardin, US Marine Corps, Retired

Group Captain Allan Wright, DFC and Bar, AFC, passed away on 16 September 2015, aged 95. His father, Air Commodore Arthur Wright flew with the RFC during WW1, and Allan's brother Mandeville, wounded whilst flying a Hurricane early in WW2 was killed after volunteering for mining operations off the North German coast. The third brother, John Wright, was invalided out of the RAF after breaking both legs in a flying accident. Our country owes a great debt to the Wright family and others like Paul Klipsch and Roger Bushell. We must NEVER FORGET! GSTQ

My jaw dropped when I saw that old guy jump into that plane like he was a teenager. I can only pray I will be half that agile when I near his age. If I do. God bless him.

Love seeing those old guys getting up on their old equipment, the years melt off them. Thank you for your service

I thought when the former pilot climbed into the Spitfire, that he was going to start the engine and fly around for awhile! He looked so at home. I have nothing but the utmost respect for these men.

My father served with the Canadian Air Force in England during the war where he met my mother. Fair to say, because of the sacrifices men like Paul Klipsch, and all the men and women who served in world war II made, I have had the life I am living now. I liked this episode very much and it reminded me again to not take anything for granted, hard to imagine where we`d be today had the allies lost the war.

After watching this wonderful and also emotional episode, I visited Paul's grave in 2014 and this was thanks to Time Team, very special. I cried a few tears.

This Time Team episode is on my opinion the best one they've ever made. Giving his stepbrother the chance to see what happened, and seeing this old man struggling with his emotions at the end made it so powerful and emotional. This is the only episode I've cried. RIP Paul Klipsch, thank you for your service. 🙏🏻❤

Its hard to imagine what a terrible service those villagers had to perform, to remove his remains from such wreckage. R.I.P

Thank You, Sgt. Pilot Paul Klipsch.

It was quite a sad episode. I lost a husband who died in military service, and I have thought about what really happened and did he know. So, watching this one and seeing the crew collect the pieces plus the personal effects of the pilot made me cry. The pictures of Paul, my husband's name was Paul too, showed a brave, happy, healthy and handsome young man lost forever because of a war. Eric was visibly moved too by Stewart's sensitive explanation of Paul's death and this part was very touching. RIP Paul and Eric- two brothers finally together forever.

Extremely moving. Beautifully done, Time Team. Your sensitivity was outstanding.

Such a shame about Eric, you could see his heart stop when he was handed the small hanging chain from his step brothers jacket, made me tear up completely.

What these more historically recent digs sometimes lack in dramatic structures,celebrated names or amazing artifacts,they certainly make up for in poignancy.So often the aging participants recall details lost to current sources,and their contributions make these shows meaningful,emotional and rewarding.Thanks once again for another irreplaceable Time Team episode!

What a great episode this was.40000 viewers later and we know the young man Paul Klipsch's story.LEST WE FORGET

This episode and the episode discovering the two bombers are the most emotional programs on Time Team. Both brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for paying tribute to the pilots and crews of these planes.

This one of the most special episodes I have watched! God bless all our HEROES!!!

A very soul-stirring episode. May he, and his step-brother, rest in peace, as may all who unselfishly gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Amazing that this wonderful poem was written by a nineteen-year old: "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gillespie_Magee_Jr.

This episode had me absolutely in tears. High Flight is one of my favorite poems and was such a lovely tribute to the pair of brothers.

At 33 min... notice the old timer's immediate head movements~ left, Right, Up, down...youthful, ingrained instincts kick in~ observation of all and everything in seconds.

This dig is so different from most of the other digs. Usually unknown people at relatively unknown sites from unknown dates in the Stone, Bronze, Roman occupation, or Medieval periods are discovered. This site pertains to a specific event in the Modern period, on a specific date, and, most importantly, pertains to one, specific, known person, whose own brother was present during the excavation. It carries an emotional charge unlike the other digs.

The scientific side of me was overcome with the emotion of the event. I shed profuse tears. Time Team, you handled this one with great sensitivity. The greatest of all your episodes!

Made me cry by the end. I had an uncle fight in WWII and blessed he came back. Glad his brother got some closure

A very touching ending to a poignant episode. For all their joking around, Time Team has class & always sincere respect.

This is the first time that time team has made me cry. Thank you for the care and love used in the making of this episode.

Have been binge watching this wonderful series for days and must finally comment. To me, this is the most compelling, heart wrenching, poignant and important episode. Thank you for posting the video and TimeTeam producers -- thank you for making this video. Outstanding.

Excellent episode! The Spitfire was an airborne Ferrari, powerful, responsive, and lethal. A beautiful machine with an ugly job, and the air corps took the heaviest losses of all the western allied forces. I am in awe of the resolve those people had to keep launching every day knowing what the odds were of returning safely, but the smile on his face in that old b/w photo, climbing into that Spit', says it all. Sad as this may have been, there is still a happy ending. If there be a heaven, the two will meet again and Eric can tell his brother the price he paid was not in vain,...They won To the R.A.F./U.S.A.F men and women, "salute".

@ 41:01 - 41:12 The true definition of graceful flight. What a marvelous aircraft. John Gillespie Magee, Jr 's poem "High Flight" is one of my most favorite poems and was a fitting tribute at ending of the program.

I have seen and read about how the French take such care of all the allied graves I can’t remember the name of the little town but I believe I read how each family has “adopted” each of our loved ones who are buried so far away and care for them as if they were their own. My Daddy is buried in another state ...but when I lived close by I always brought flowers and took care of a grave of a man who obviously didn’t have family close by (or maybe not even around any longer) I would always bring enough for 3...Grandpa, Daddy and the other Gentleman who was also a veteran. Thank you to each and every one of you who have served for your countries

This is now my 2nd time watching Time Team's entire saga from season 1 onwards, and I have to say that after the first time watching all the seasons and episodes I was convinced Carenza was a complete egotistical know-it-all brat who wouldn't shut up. I couldn't have been more wrong about her. She is extremely kind, educated, talented, highly intelligent and very hard working to say only a few attributes about her that I now see. Thank you Carenza, you truly are impressive and more.

One of my favorite episodes - a wonderful tribute, an extremely touching ending. Well done!

This one brought tears to my eyes. Thank you in so many ways! My father flew in the South Pacific during the war and was brigade photagrapher. I have many of his photographs to remember him by.

i Normally like the episodes that are about Roman excavations and almost skipped this one. I am glad i didnt ! Just seeing that Spitfire fly over the field and over the grave of the Pilot was amazing. True heros back in WWII. My Grandfather drove a Sherman tank with the 13th Armored Division through France and Germany,so WWII has a special interest to me ...awesome episode

Interestingly, Squadron Leader Bushell - who flew with Paul Klipsch, would be captured and would eventually be held at Stalag Luft III, made famous by 'The Great Escape'. Bushell inspired the character of Roger Barlett, played by Richard Attenborough.

First hard cry watching this Time Team! God bless them for giving that man an answer about what happened to his brother. Bless the brothers…they are now together❤

Sadly, sometimes war is all that's left to free us from enslavers. I cry with those who remember the noble deeds of Mr. Kkipsch as I cry for the loss of my own noble son Naresh. God bless them both.

Nothing has ever been created that can match the beauty of a Spitfire, bought a lump to the throat watching the awesome beauty fly over the remains of one its fallen comrades.

The Best Time Team episode to date.

I am so happy I stopped for a quick bit of history what an awesome feeling rather proud of carina speaking French very obvious she paid great attention to her lessons!

This is definitely one of my favorite episodes. Very touching towards the end when they're talking to the pilots brother.

Very moving episode. Éric, the retired spitfire pilot was is tears for the loss of his half brother. Felt his sadness when he held the bomber jacker chain. Lest We Forget 💖

Most emotional episode!! Thank you Time Team! Awesome episode! You made grown man cry :(

This brought me to tears. Those young, handsome, full of life boys lost to a senseless war. May they rest in pease. God bless them one and all.

saw the original program, & now still brings a tear to the eye to see what those young men sacrificed for a free world.. Hope they are not watching the outcome of world politics in 2014. May they rest in peace.

I love Phil's enthuiasim!

I really miss my grandpa. 😔 He was a Bombardier US Air Force. Flew over 50 missions but didn’t talk about it much Man that generation was truly special.

So many lovely young men who lost their lives. War is so cruel.

I love this program, but this particular show was very meaningful, quite touching and left me close to tears. These brave pilots paid for freedom we all need to appreciate a little bit more. Thank you TimeTeam for such a special program.

The field that was dug for Sgt Kilpsch's Spitfire was here: 50.778998°N, 1.741021°E

A very moving episode. Thank you Time Team.

Hats of to all these guys. Brave lads. 👍 thank you for all that you gave..........

If I haven't said this before, let me say it now. Thank you kind sir, for recording the Time Team Episodes (where you could) in Chronological order. LOL, I'm not usually so 'anal' about watching a TV Series in order, but I'm a bit of a History Buff (used to imagine I would grow up to be an Archeologist, somewhere between the personalities of Mick, The Professor, Phil, the Enthusiastic, yet knowlegeable 'digger', and Tony the "Everyman asking questions, but always a bit sceptical of answers that seemed to be 'to exact', with little, or no room for error, on the part of "experts". I especially enjoyed the episodes that Victor drew out for us. Although based on what he had learned on his own research, and that provided to him by the experts on that specific dig, his images, I think, did the most to bring to life THEIR LIVES. History never dies, it just waits to be discovered (or re-discovered) by new eyes - perhaps eyes that can see the past histories 'present', and that had been learned since.

it great to see alan reunited with a spitfire after so many years. i was not prepared for how shaken i was seeing the wreckage laid out upon the spitfire shaped tarp. how mangled it was, and the fact that a man was sitting in it when it became so mangled.

And another family has closure. Well done. I enjoy watching all the episodes but my favorites are where they have dug up a plane from WW II with the best part being the closure they can bring to the families.

These type of videos about WWII make me sad for the loses of life but proud at the same time because I'm proud to say I'm a 3rd generation military veteran 1)my mom's dad (Army) my dad (Marine) and myself (Army)

The fact they found a way to get Alan into a Spitfire again was so lovely to witness….age may bare our bones but the mind can always find a way to stay young…and Alan just returned to his 20’s again I’m sure in that moment…one of the unique TT episodes…

Wonderful episode!!

A very touching episode with such a moving ending - almost as though Eric felt his mission was finally accomplished once he found out what had happened to Paul. I cringed, however, at the end when everybody was respectfully standing around the blue outline of the Spitfire, and good old Tony goes and walks right across it - several times.

What a fantastic episode. Thank you Time Team.

At 46:40 one of the team showed Carenza Lewis a picture of mk 1 spitfires flying in formation. I know this picture. A copy used to be on my father's desk. It was photographed prewar as a publicity and the flying code of FZ is of 65 squadron where my uncle was flying , As I remember it , the second to last in the row was his machine. He survived the Battle of Brtitain but lost many friends, he told me later. He himself shot down in early August 1940 and hospitalised until October.

I think it's the most moving episode of Time Team so far. I broke down when I heard the story behind the little jacket chain and when they gave it to the killed pilot's brother. I hope it brought the man a sense of closure before he passed away.

The most moving Time Team I’ve seen. Thank you for this one.

A most touching Time Team. Thank you. ❤️

Carenza is such an intelligent woman. I love her. And she speaks French really good.

Very touching, a life lost before it was lived. We owe them so much!

Thanks so much for posting

Outstanding episode! One of the best!

Man that episode really chocked me up . My father and 3 uncles were all WW2 Veterans and thank God they all came back alive although one was pretty traumatized about it til his death in 1984 . They all seemed to drink rather heavily too. RIP Klipsch you were a real hero that veterans talk about that did not come back.

This SO made tear up. RIP Sergeant Klipsch and Mr. Wynn-Owen.

Paul H. Klipsch shares a name with Paul W. Klipsch, engineer and founder of Klipsch Audio, my favorite audio brand. No apparent close relationship, but R.I.P. to both.

A very touching episode. Thank you

Shew! Very emotional I am sure many a tear including my own has been shed. R.I.P. All the airmen and soldiers who died in the war. I am pleased that the step-brother was able to get full confirmation about what happened and a few personal artifacts before he himself passed away. During war there is naturally a lot of secrecy about details pertaining to war operations. It sometimes takes many years before relatives and close friends find out what happened to their loved ones who died in the war. Especially when the body is not recovered and is buried in hostile territory. This leaves a hole in people's heart as they really never get closure and struggle to put the dear departed to rest. I experienced the very same thing when my brother was killed when his helicopter was downed by a rocket in Mozambique in the Rhodesian war. We did not even know where it happened and if his body had been buried. It took 30 years before we found out. My father was so traumatised by this that he started having fits and eventually his mind went soft and simple. My mother became a very bitter and difficult woman but at least she got to know where it happened and that the villagers had buried her son. But she still died with no real closure. My father was part of the groundcrew who serviced and repaired the allied aircraft in Italy during WWII. My grandmother was in the women's auxiliary air force based at home doing the same. Starting in Cape Town South Africa one of the first jobs my father was involved in was the assembling of Spitfires and Harvards which were initially used to train the young pilots and then flown by the same pilots into the war zones in Europe. After this job was complete My father along with the rest of the team travelled to Italy where they were stationed at a base for the servicing and repair work. He fell in love with the Italian people and their culture and right until his death at the age of 82 he would get misty eyed and over and over again talk about his experiences there. Once a restored Spitfire flew over our house in Salisbury (now Harare) and my father was in the garden. He looked up and told us that he was very worried because the pilot was flying too high and into thick clouds. We could hear him giving instructions to the pilot even though the pilot would never have heard him because he was talking to himself. He said, "That man is going to kill himself", We did not witness or hear or see the crash, but two days later we learned that the pilot indeed made mistakes and had crashed the plane and died. It has taken my siblings and I 40 years to put the heartache and pain of my brother's death behind us but hearing this story doubles the tears and I can honestly say that I can really empathise with this family. The marked and unmarked graves of fallen military personnel globally represent the cries and heartache of millions of bereaved family and friends who have never gotten closure. God Bless you

My grandfather was stationed on the USS Saratoga in the Pacific. My father was born on a Naval base in Washington state in the tag end (1944) of the Pacific theater. My father volunteered for ROTC at Florida Stste and graduated in 1968 then was stationed in Texas at Reese AFB where I was born. He spent the tag end of Vietnam in minuteman missile silos in ND before retiring in 1998 after 20 years of service. I met a nice gent who saved in the RAF during WWII in town and thanked him for his service which was so much longer than any US service member served. He was nearly in tears and gave me a hug.

Very cool. I stumbled upon a downed Spad XIII from 1918, or at least it's engine block, in a cow pasture near Grandpre, that's never been excavated.

48 seconds to go and I had to stop. I was so emotional, so inspired… I just couldn’t. Well done.

Very emotional ending. My dad was in the Pacific during WWII and fought at Okinawa with the 3rd Marine Raiders.

So Snoopy flew a Sopwith Camel, but Charlie Brown flies a Spitfire.

Oh! What a touching story this episode of TT is. Where's the tissue???

It was mentioned that Klipsch flew alongside "Bushell" on his final flight into combat. Curiously, was this Roger Bushell who became the driving force behind the famous "Great Escape" (refer to Paul Brickhouse's book) from the Sagan P.O.W. camp? His character was played by Richard Attenborough in the movie, though his name was changed to "Roger Bartlett".

I almost made it through this episode. And then they recited “High Flight” and I lost it. RIP, heroes.

At the end of this episode, I couldn't stop a few tears. The words and the plane flying, searching for his fellow pilot, but in vain.

Never has a Time Team episode touched me in such a way

This was heartbreaking. Im glad Eric was able to have some closure before he died.

every dam episode John shows up with a diffferent looking Geophys machine. lol.

Incredible episode!

15:48 - loving Phil's Daisy dukes

Holy moley! The commander Bushell whom Stewart is talking about at 42:03 is Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, who was shot down the same day as the battle [5.23.40] and captured. He was later sent to Stalg Luft III, where Bushell was a leader in planning and executing the great escape from that camp about which the 1963 film was made where Bushell was portrayed by Richard Attenborough. After his recapture, Bushell was executed by the Nazis.

It's so lovely to hear that some portion of the team is "coming up trumps" without wanting to weep with anger and sorrow.

"What where the big problems flying one of these?" ... I would have said, "Enemy bullets".

Of course Carenza speaks French, is there nothing she can’t do? Love the old man, the step-brother, holding on to her hand, lucky guy. I’m so glad she and Helen are back for the new ones, fitting they take the reigns from Mick and Francis.

My Grandad was a spitfire mechanic. He never wanted to talk about what he had seen. Loved to talk about the planes themselves though.

my good how did they ever extract the body from that wreckage??

Rest in Peace indeed...

All comments? Three? I hope more people take the time to watch this. I don't want to be overly romantic but the next time you see that doddering old man or woman, remember what they did for you.