The lives of Royal Air Force Wing Commander Arthur (''Artie'') Ashworth and Royal New Zealand Air Force Flying Officer Corran Ashworth were recognised in a ceremony at the Alexandra Cemetery on Saturday and plaques dedicated to each man were unveiled on the family grave.
About 40 family members from all over New Zealand gathered for the occasion, which was organised by the men's younger brother, Vince Ashworth, of Morrinsville.
Several speakers wiped away tears as they outlined the men's war efforts.
Fl Offr Ashworth died in Normandy, France, on August 3, 1944.
The family had been told he was missing in action and his body was never recovered.
It was not until 62 years later that the details of his death came to light.
Vince Ashworth, who wrote a book about each of the brothers, was emailed by an amateur French historian who was researching World War 2 in Normandy, who asked if he was related to Corran Ashworth.
The historian said Corran's Mustang fighter plane had been observed crashing into the River Seine.
In 2006, Mr Ashworth and his wife, May, later visited the town of Oissel where this had happened.
''We met an old lady who took us to the river and showed us where, as a child, she had seen his plane crash. We were there when they held a ceremony to unveil a beautiful memorial stone for him, opposite where his remains lie ... divers had tried to find the wreckage but couldn't find it,'' Mr Ashworth said.
The letter from Fl Offr Ashworth's commanding officer said he had ''established a splendid reputation as a pilot - we can ill-afford to lose men of his calibre''.
Mr Ashworth's brother, Artie, was one of this country's most decorated pilots as well as being one of the first Alexandra people to enlist, in 1939.
He was given a commission to serve in the RAF but trained in this country and then went to England.
He was selected to become a ''pathfinder '' - an elite unit in the RAF, the pilots who led the way before a bombing operation, marking the target with flares.
W Cmdr Ashworth carried out 110 missions, at a time when the average survival rate was about 12 missions, Mr Ashworth said.
He served 29 years in the RAF and received four decorations for bravery, including the Distinguished Service Order.
He continued his career with the armed forces in peace time and settled in England, dying on February 19, 1994, aged 73.
The distinguished pilot was described by colleagues as a born leader who inspired confidence.
