Funeral held for Marines skydiver

The plane crash-landed in a field

A full military funeral for a Royal Marines skydiving champion who died with three others in a plane crash has taken place in Devon.

The service, for Major Mike Wills, 44, from Tiverton, was held at St Alban Church at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone.

More than 400 people attended the service on Wednesday.

Major Wills died in June when a Cessna 206 light aircraft crashed after taking off in east Devon.

Mike was thoroughly professional, strong in body and mind, and displayed both integrity and humour in all he did Garry Robison, Royal Marines Brigadier

Major Wills had 5,900 jumps to his name, and had held world and UK records.

He joined the Royal Marines as an officer aged 18 in 1978, and at the time of his death was responsible for co-ordinating Royal Marine recruitment training policy.

A volley of shots was fired as he was laid to rest followed by a minute's silence.

Royal Marines Brigadier Garry Robison said: "Major Mike Wills was the epitome of a Royal Marines Officer.

"He was thoroughly professional, strong in body and mind, and displayed both integrity and humour in all he did.

"He also had an enviable thirst for adventure. His presence within the Commando Training Centre and the Royal Marines will be sorely missed."

Tandem jump

Major Wills' brother, Patrick, said: "Mike lived for the Royal Marines and parachuting."

The aircraft crashed near Dunkeswell airfield on 27 June during a flight organised by the Devon and Somerset Parachute School.

Crash survivor Daniel Greening, 16, from Kingsteignton, south Devon, was carrying out a "tandem jump" and at the time of the crash was attached to Major Wills.

The plane's pilot, 52-year-old Dr Paul Norman, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, also died in the crash on 27 June.

The passengers who died with him at the scene were 42-year-old Richard Smith and his 17-year-old daughter Claire, from Winkleigh, Devon.

'Selfless' actions

The other survivor of the crash was a 23-year-old man from Taunton, Somerset.

The school's chief instructor, Andy Guest, said Daniel was the only person aboard the aircraft who was not a qualified sky diver.

He said: "I believe, and I would have expected, that the jumpers on board would have been talking to the student, and their concern would have been to reassure the student.

"The natural reaction from sky divers is to look after the first-time jumper, and Daniel was a first-time jumper," said Mr Guest.

Daniel's family said that he had survived thanks to the "selfless actions" of other skydivers on board.