PILOT and ex-serviceman Reg McComish plans to conduct his own fly past in a 1942 USAAF spotter plane to honour the men who died during Exercise Tiger.

Last weekend Reg treated member of Kingsbridge Royal British Legion Club to flights around the area as his way of thanking them for their work restoring the Mill Club.

Reg said: 'It was a stunning day and they all seemed to enjoy it. Many had never flown in wartime aircraft – in something that has seen action.'

On Sunday, when Torcross will mark the 70th anniversary of Exercise Tiger, Reg will stage his own independent fly past, in tribute to all the men who died. Reg contacted the organisers of the official event but his offer of a fly past was turned down.

Undeterred, he will be flying low along the beach at 1.30pm on Sunday an hour before the official service.

Organiser of the official event John Casson said he had received Reg's 'kind offer' and normally would be all to keen to take him up on it. But he said this year's service will take place in a marquee after last year's event had to be called off due to bad weather. He said: 'It's a lovely offer but we would be letting him down if we invited him to do it and nobody could see him because they were all inside.'