Duke Of Kent Killed In Aeroplane Crash On Way To Iceland

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 3

Duke Of Kent Killed In Aeroplane Crash On Way To Iceland

British Official Wireless.

All aboard flying-boat perish.

lionaon, Aug. zt>. ^IR Commodore the Duke of Kent, younger brother of His Majesty the King, was killed on active service when a Sunderland flying-boat crashed in the north of Scotland on Tuesday afternoon. All of the crew of the flying-boat perished. The Duke, who was attached to the staff of the InspectorGeneral of the Royal Air Force, was on his way to Iceland in the course of duty. News of the tragedy was given at London tonight. The Duke, who held a pilpt's ticket, had flown thousands of. miles in attending to his duties. He was 39 years of age. He married Princess Marina in 1934 and they had three children. The Duke was often in personal danger from enemy bombs, shells: and machine-gun • fire. He was in a south coast town a week ago when it was bombed and machine-gunned. Shells from batteries on the French coast fell in Dover when he was visiting there in Noveipber, 1940. Bombs were dropped on a Kentish aerodrome four minutes after the Duke of Kent departed during the Battle of Britain. The crash was in no way due to enemy action. His Majesty saw the Duke of Kent shortly before his fatal flight. Their Majesties received the news of the death late last night. The news was also broken to the Duchess of Kent, who was away from London. Prince Edward is the Duke of Kent's heir but it is not certain that he will become Duke of Kent because the King usually bestows Royal Dukedoms on one person and they Mo not descend. — ~ -----