Spitfire in salute from the skies for Midlands NHS heroes - with VIDEO
Spectators gathered in their masses outside to witness a Spitfire fly-past honouring the heroes of the NHS.
The aircraft, bearing the names of thousands of heroes of the coronavirus pandemic flew over the West Midlands earlier today to pay tribute.
The former Second World War aircraft, with 'Thank U NHS' painted on the underside, was touring hospitals around the country while raising money for NHS Charities Together.
WATCH: Spitfire over RAF Cosford - video by Matt Lakin
It flew past Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and then New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, as well as Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and Ludlow Community Hospital, as well as over RAF Cosford where a siren was activated to greet it.
People have also been given the opportunity to nominate the name of a loved one to be handwritten onto the plane.
John Romain, founder and managing director of Aircraft Restoration Company, the company that owns the plane, said: “The response to our initial flight over the last 8pm clap for carers Thursday was incredibly humbling, with hundreds of people from the local community sharing how wonderful it was to not only see the Spitfire, but also to read the message emblazoned across its wings.
"After such positive response we decided to leave the message painted on the Spitfire for the rest of the flying season."
There is the capacity for 80,000 names to be written on the Spitfire and nominations can be made at JustGiving.com/nhsspitfire, together with a minimum £10 donation, before the September 20 deadline.
