Captain Tom WILL be saluted with flypast of RAF fighter jets to mark his 100th birthday
HEROIC Captain Tom Moore will have his 100th birthday marked by a full RAF flypast of the garden where he raised £30million.
The veteran had hoped to be saluted by a spitfire flyover until the private plane operator was banned from the flight by the Department of Transport.
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There had been accusations the ban followed concerns any memorial flight would encourage crowds to form during lockdown.
But Government officials have now revealed they had already intended to honour Captain Tom with a full RAF fly-by.
Ministry of Defence bosses warned the public to stick to lockdown rules as the flypast approached.
An MoD source said: “The Great British public is reminded not to gather to watch this event and to continue adhere to PHE guidelines on social distancing.”
Exact details were still to be confirmed, but the flight is expected to include the might of Britain’s modern air force, including Typhoons.
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Responding to criticism of the Spitfire ban, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Unfortunately this story is completely misleading as will become apparent on Thursday.
“The brilliant, inspiring Capt Tom Moore WILL be honoured on his birthday and in an even more significant way.”
For safety reasons it is understood World War Two fighter The Spirit Of Kent, a Mark 9 Spitfire, will no longer take part in the flypast.
However a fly-by of modern RAF fighters will fly over Cpt Tom’s home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, at 8pm on Thursday.
The timing has been designed to coincide with the nation’s weekly Clap For Carers.
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Cpt Tom, 99, set out to raise £1,000 for NHS Communities by doing 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday – but after catching the public’s imagination raked in £30million.
National hero Cpt Moore was given 120,000 birthday cards wishing him well and thanking him for his incredible fundraising feat.
The Second World War veteran turned down offers of gifts and instead asked for them to go to virus sufferers.
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