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The 'Spirit of Kent' Spitfire flying over Hawkinge Our thanks go to Gazette Online reader Gwendoline Powell who kindly sent us her photograph of the historic event

The 'Spirit of Kent', a restored Spitfire flown at displays in memory of the 131 County of Kent Squadron visited Hawkinge today soaring and diving in the afternoon skies above the former airfield.

Known as the Kent Spitfire the restored veteran aircraft was adorned with the 'Spirit of Kent' motto after it was bought by Peter Monk and Mike Simpson in 2006 following long service in South Africa and eventual scrapping.

The aircraft was built at the Supermarine works in Castle Bromwich and went into service in 1944.

For the latter part of the conflict it was flown in Suffolk by 234 Squadron but after the war was over it served in the South African Air Force.

The plane  was scrapped in 1954 and its remains lay undiscovered for 27 years.

Tomorrow (25 May) it will be flying above the  RAF museum at Manston in Thanet.