A DARING pilot involved in some of the Second World War's most dangerous operations has died aged 97.

Former Staff Sergeant Geoff Thompson, a member of the York branch of the Parachute Regimental Association, was a glider pilot on D-Day in June 1944, when Allied Forces invaded Normandy, France.

Mr Thompson, from Pocklington, also piloted an aircraft carrying troops during operation Market Garden, in Holland, September 1944.

He was captured and made a prisoner-of-war (POW).

As a POW, he later went on the gruelling ‘Death March’ from Poland, in which he was forced to walk for miles without food or water for eight weeks, with many of his companions dying at the roadside from frostbite and malnutrition.

He was told he would lose both feet and half of a leg from frostbite but was given penicillin and eventually lost only the toes on one foot.

His service during the war earned him the Chevalier of the Legion D'honneur, the French equivalent of an OBE medal and France's highest military honour.

His son, Richard Thompson, said: "To us he was a dad and grandad, but over the last 30 years, with fewer veterans left, he has built up a reputation as a war hero.

"He was a very unassuming sort of man and wanted to do the best for his family.

"He never bragged about all the awards he received over the years.

"The fact he has lived to 97 and a quarter is excellent and he has been very independent.

"He didn't stop driving until two years ago and used to go a lot of places himself."

Donald Marshall, chairman of the Parachute Regimental Association, added: "The greatest thing I can say is he was an excellent example of a young man who didn't intend to join the Army but did because of the war and proved to be an exceptional pilot."

Mr Thompson was married to the late Joan and is survived by his children Jacky and Richard, grandchildren Sarah, Nick, Sussanne, Jonathan, Mark, Paul, Steven, Nicolla and Debbie, and great grandchildren Sam, Oliver, Elsa, Bella, Maggie, Thomas, Aaron, Saffron, Henry and Franky. 

His funeral service to be held on Thursday, March 16 at York Crematorium from 1pm.