A NORMANDY veteran who flew with the Canadian Air Force during the 1944 campaign to liberate Europe has died, aged 92.

John Beisly, of Acomb Wood, worked as a flight engineer in low-level daylight bombing raids on ports still held by the Germans in the period after D-Day, such as Boulogne and Calais.

He received France’s highest military honour, the Legion d’Honneur, last year.

He died peacefully earlier this month at York Hospital and his funeral takes place at 1pm today at York Crematorium.

His granddaughter Tracey said the family had contacted the Canadian Embassy, which would be sending somebody to attend the service.

John, widower of the late Ann, left three daughters, Wendy, Jill and Jo, and eight grandchildren.

“As his family, we are devastated to have lost him but we feel we were so lucky to have had such an inspirational and wonderful person in our lives,” said Tracey.

She said John had experienced many near misses during the Second World War, including a Halifax bomber crash landing only feet away from him on his first day on a base at Skipton-on-Swale.

“He was featured in The Press 12 years ago as ‘Super-fit Granddad,’ as he was such a regular at his gym that they did him a birthday party on his 80th.”

The Press reported in 2005 how John rowed 2,000 metres, cycled six miles and swam 15 lengths - before most had even got out of bed.

His fitness regime included a full circuit of the gym equipment, including the leg curls, rowing machine, cycling machine and weights.

Staff and other keep-fit fanatics at the former Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool, presented him with a cake decorated with his membership card and hung balloons on his gym equipment.