Cobber Kain
| Edgar James Kain | |
|---|---|
Cobber Kain
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Cobber |
| Born |
27 June 1918 Hastings, New Zealand |
| Died | 7 June 1940 (aged 21) Échemines, France |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1936 – 1940 |
| Rank | Flying officer |
| Service number | 39534 |
| Unit | No. 73 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Edgar James Kain DFC (27 June 1918—7 June 1940) was a New Zealand fighter pilot who flew in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. Born in New Zealand in 1918 Kain initially intended to begin a career as a school teacher. He developed an interest in aviation and soon learned to fly. In 1936 he travelled to the United Kingdom and was accepted into the RAF. He completed his flight training in November 1937 and joined No. 73 Squadron RAF and flew the Gloster Gladiator and then Hawker Hurricane. On the outbreak of war in Europe on 3 September 1939 he was sent with his Squadron to France, part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF).
Kain began flying operational sorties during the Phoney War and gained 73 Squadron and his first victory in November 1939. A second followed days later. In March he had claimed his fifth victory and became a fighter ace—a pilot credited with five or more enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat—and the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Second World War. During the course of these rare encounters, his fighter was damaged on more than one occasion and he was wounded in action. The Phoney War ended on 10 May 1940 when the Battle of France and the Low Countries began. Within 17 days of the beginning of the campaign, he had claimed a further 12 aerial victories. His success so early in the war meant he was to become a household name in Britain.
Deemed to be physically exhausted Kain was ordered to return home on 7 June 1940, with the Allied effort in France now on the brink of collapse. Having bid farewell to his Squadron he intended to pilot a Miles Magister to England across the English Channel. In a gesture to his comrades he took off in a Hurricane to perform a series of low-level aerobatics over the airfield. Kain crashed at high speed and was killed instantly. At the time of his death he held the rank of flying officer and was credited with 17 aerial victories against the Luftwaffe.
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