A WARTIME spitfire will be flying over Tavistock tomorrow (Saturday) to thank the NHS for all they have done during the coronavirus pandemic.

The NHS spitfire is due to fly over Tavistock Hospital at approximately 11.25am as part of a route of honour over hospitals in Devon and Cornwall.

The aircraft will set off from Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex at 10.30am, before flying over Torquay Hospital and Mount Gould and Derriford Hospitals in Plymouth, then heading for Tavistock.

It will then fly on down to Cornwall, to honour staff at hospitals there.

The aircraft, which was used for photo reconnaissance work during World War Two, is part of a project to allow people countrywide to honour their heroes of the coronavirus pandemic.

People are invited to nominate the name they’d like to see written on the aircraft, and give a donation to NHS Charities Together, at JustGiving/NHSSpitfire.

Everyone who donates will see their chosen name written on the aircraft, up to a capacity of 80,000 names.

A spokesperson for the project said: ‘The aim is to lift the spirits of those across the UK, whilst also thanking the hospitals, communities and individuals who have been at the forefront of getting the country through the pandemic.

‘This Spitfire was specifically built and used for photo reconnaissance during the conflict, carrying cameras instead of weapons. It was also flown and air-raced by the famous female ATA pilot Lettice Curtis.’