The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-15
Famous Dancer and Air
Hero Meets Death Near
Fort Worth, Texas
VETERAN OF THE
WESTERN FRONT
Cadet An American Who
Was Being Instructed
By British Flyers
(Ry Associated PressN

Fort Worth. Texas, Feb. 49,
Capt. Vernon Castle. OF the English
Royal Flying corps, was killed this
morning while flying fifteen miles
west of Fort Worth.
Castle had made over $50 flights
over the German lines and was the
hero of many exploits in the war
zone. His work had been especially
on the Flanders front and covered a
period Of nine months. He came to
Fort Worth last October along with
Lord Wellesley.
Castle, in trying to avoid a cadet,
swerved his machine beyond his con-
troll. fell and was unable to right
himself. The cadet was an American
but was being instructed by the Brit
ish. The accident happened close by
the Benbrook field. The cadet was
uninjured.
Castles plane was near the ground
and he was in the front seat in
structing the cadet instead of in the
rear where the instructor usually
rides. Had he occupied the rear
seat, he would not have been in
jured. When he Saw the danger of
collision with the approaching
plane, Castle undertook what avia-
tors know as an Immelman Turn.
The plane failed to respond.
The cadet was r. Peters. His on
ly injury is a black eye. Castle
never regatned consciousness, but
died in the field hospital twenty
minutes later.
Conclusion Of the brain was the
cause. Castle belonged to the
Bighty-fourth Royal Flying corps
squadron.
The plane was only fifty feet
above the ground and was going
rapidly. The plane with which the
collision was threatened was just
rising.
New York, Feb. 15.-vernon Castle
had a national reputation as a
dancer. His home was here. With
his wife, also a graceful dancer, he
attained great popularity several
years ago as a teacher Of modern
dances. When the war broke out
both Of the Castles became interested
in war work and Mr.. Castle took up
aviation.
He was granted an aviator's pilot
license by the Aero Club Of America,
Feb. 3, 1915, after having made a
satisfactory record in test flights at
Newport News. Va. He was born in
Norwich. England, May 2, 1887.
His right name was Vernon Blythe.
Soon after receiving his avia-
tor license he sailed from New York
for England to join the British aerial
In March of 1915 he was
appointed a temporary lieutenant
in the British Royal Flying corps.
Shortly afterward there came a. re-
port Of his death while flying in
France.
Mrs. Castle, professionally known
as Irene Castle, followed her hus-
band abroad to visit him. Return
ing from second visit a year later
she announced that her husband had
received the cross of war for valor-
Gus action on the western front.
She said he had brought down two
German aviators
Castle returned from the French
front in April, 1917, and Joined theI
instructor with the rank Of cap
tain. The following month he was
reported to have had g. narrow es- |
cape from death at Camp Mohawk. |
The cadet who was flying with Cap
tain Castle at the time was killed. |
When a Canadian contingent of |
the flying corps was transferred to |
Texas last fall for winter training, |
Captain Castle went with IL as an
Instructor.
Mrs. Castle, who is now one Of
The star actresses Of a motion picture
concern, was prostrated upon re-
,eiving the news OF her husbands
death.