Michael Winstanley was praised for his brave rescue of two men

Michael Winstanley, 52, of Christchurch in Dorset, was presented the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for the rescue at Bournemouth Airport in August 2004.

The two people Mr Winstanley pulled from the fire were badly burned but survived. A third man died in the fire.

Nigel Gallimore, a man who claimed to have helped, was stripped of his award when his lies were exposed last year.

Mr Winstanley has always said that his actions were not heroic but that he "just had to do it".

The Tobago light aircraft crashed shortly after take-off

His bravery came after the Tobago plane carrying pilot Rob le Page and passengers Andrew Anderson and Dave Bougourd crashed shortly after take-off on 28 August 2004.

It was seen to lose height before crashing at the roadside, near to the airport's boundary fence.

Former corporal Mr Winstanley was driving his van when he witnessed the crash.

He ran to the plane and helped the badly-burnt pilot away from the scene.

Despite an explosion and the plane being fully ablaze, Mr Winstanley ran back to help Mr Bougourd, putting the flames out on his back and leg with his hands.

Witnesses said the wreckage was burning too fiercely for anyone to get close enough to rescue Mr Anderson.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Both rescued men survived their ordeal but there is no doubt that, but for the brave, selfless actions of Mr Winstanley, the loss of life would have been greater."