How do I get to the Eagle's Rock crash site near Dunbeath?

The crash site is about two and a half miles inland from Dunbeath on rough, pathless moorland. There's no marked trail, so you'll need navigation skills and good waterproof boots—the ground is wet, tussocky, and uneven.

Who survived the Duke of Kent plane crash?

Only one person survived: Sergeant Andrew Jack, the rear gunner. His tail turret broke away on impact, and he was found injured the next day by a local family at their croft.

What caused the Sunderland crash that killed the Duke of Kent?

The official RAF inquiry concluded it was navigational error—the crew didn't adequately account for wind drift in poor visibility. The aircraft strayed off course and flew too low over land instead of heading out to sea.

Aircraft Lost on the Hills

The Duke and the Sunderland at Eagle’s Rock

A Sunderland bound for Iceland struck the Caithness coast at Eagle’s Rock, killing fourteen of the fifteen people aboard. Among them was Prince George, Duke of Kent, making this remote Scottish crash site part of a tragedy that reached all the way to the Royal Family.

3 October 20266 min read