Duke to honour Gulf dead

A memorial to those who died has already been established at the air base

Royal war veteran the Duke of York will attend a cathedral service in honour of seven members of a Cornwall-based navy helicopter squadron - six of them British - who died in a Gulf war air crash.

The Duke, who piloted a helicopter during the Falklands war, will attend the service of thanksgiving and remembrance at Truro Cathedral on 27 July.

The service will honour seven members of 849 Naval Air Squadron, one of them an American, based at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose who died when two Sea King helicopters collided during the war on Iraq.

The crash happened at about 0130 on 22 March over the northern Arabian Gulf.

Private meeting

A memorial to those who died has already been established at the air base.

Families of the aircrew will be attending the cathedral service, which will include a reading by the Duke.

Seven candles will be lit in memory of Lieutenants Philip Green, 31; Tony King, 35; Marc Lawrence, 26; Philip West, 32; James Williams, 28; Andrew Wilson, 36, and, of the US Navy, Tom Adams.

The Duke served for much of his time in the Royal Navy at RNAS Culdrose, and families will have a private meeting with him after the service.

"I am particularly proud to have the opportunity to share this occasion with the community" said Captain Mike Knowles, the Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose.

"And hope that the service will serve as a fitting tribute to both our colleagues who died, and those who continue their work."

An RNAS Culdrose spokesman said it was hoped that as many members of the public as possible would be able to attend the service.