2nd Officer HRH Prince Suprabhat Chirasakti

[JimCorbett1977]

I'm looking for further information on this chap who was killed at Ewes, Langholm, Dumfriesshire on 12th September 1942.

I'm interested in any details of his service and photos where possible.

Many thanks,

Jim

[Leendert]

Jim,

This prince from Siam is mentioned a couple of times in Flight Magazine.
He took flying lessons at Heston in 1936.

From Flight Magazine, June 25, 1936:

HESTON
A first solo flight, after less than six hours' dual, has been made
by Mrs. J. R. Robinson, the wife of the M.P. for Blackpool. A.
recent pupil of considerable aptitude is Prince Suprabhat Chirasakti
of Siam, who went solo in under six hours, took his "A" licence,
put in some cross-country work, and has now bought a Hornet
Moth from Airwork. The ex-King and Queen of Siam are also
learning to fly. Since the beginning of June, " A " licences have
been applied for, or qualified for, by eight pupils.


I gathered that he was killed in Sea Hurricane VC, JS346 of 16 FPP.

From Time Magazine, Sept. 21, 1942:

Killed in Service. Prince Chirasakti, 25, adopted son of the late Prajadhipok, ex-King of Siam; on duty with the R.A.F. air transport auxiliary. A cousin of the present King Ananda Mahidol of Thailand, he was married in London to Mani Rajah Noeprabandou, daughter of a onetime Siamese Minister at London. Much publicized in 1939 was the elaborate exorcism of devils from his five-week-old son, in rural England. A champagne party followed long wordless rites that included an anointing, attaching of cords to the baby's body, and removal of a lock of hair, which was wrapped in a lotus leaf and set adrift on the River Bourne.

Regards,

Leendert

[JimCorbett1977]

Thanks Leendert!