A FORMER American airman who was stationed in Warton during the Second World War is being returned to his old airbase one last time -- to have his ashes buried.

Sol Tauber worked as an aircraft technician at the former US airbase, Base Air Depot 2 (BAD2) for about two years, now part of BAE System.

He had left instructions to have his ashes buried in Warton and now his children are flying over from their USA home to fulfil their father's final wish.

John Stinger, who helps run a group for former BAD2 members, is organising the special ceremony -- believed to be the first of its kind -- on Tuesday, June 17.

The ashes will be buried under a Rowan tree in the grounds of the former 'Site Nine' where he was based -- now Lancashire Registry Office, Wrea Brook Court, Warton -- along with the ashes of his wife Pauline. The couple died within months of each other last year.

Their two children Ira and Elisa and grandchildren will be at the site to say their last goodbyes.

Mr Stinger said: "Sol was over here as often as he could possibly be. He had friends wherever he went and was a really nice guy.

"I want the right amount of sadness and a little bit of happiness. It's something his family will remember forever."

Sol lived in Warton for two years until the end of the war in 1945. After returning to America he lived in New Jersey with Pauline and their children until his death.

Mr Stringer has pledged to take photographs annually of the tree, where the couple will be buried, for their remaining relatives in America. He said: "The airbase was a very busy place. At any one time there would be more than 10,000 at Warton.

"We did a bit of research and found he was billeted on Site Nine so it was quite fitting. There are other sites that have been totally built over, but that land registry has been out of this world with it all, they have been really great."