Cobber Kain

Infobox Military Person
name=Edgar James "Cobber" Kain


caption="Cobber" Kain
rank=Flying Officer
branch=air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit=No. 53 Squadron
battles=
family=
nickname= "Cobber"
allegiance=British Commonwealth
lived=Born on 27 June 1918
placeofbirth=Hastings, New Zealand
placeofdeath=7 June 1940 Bois, France
serviceyears=1936- 1940
portrayedby=
laterwork=
awards=Distinguished Flying Cross

Edgar James Kain (27 June 1918 - 7 June 1940) was a New Zealand fighter pilot. Nicknamed "Cobber", Flying Officer Kain was the first RAF air ace of the Second World War, and also the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Second World War. During the Battle of France in 1940, he scored 17 confirmed kills. He was a household name in Britain in early 1940. Shores 1975, p. 70.]

Early years

Kain was born in Hastings, New Zealand, and attended Croyden School, Wellington and Christ's College, Canterbury studying under Professor Von Zedlitz. While at school he played rugby, cricket and excelled at athletics. Kain then worked as a clerk in his father's warehousing business. An interest in flying came early, Kain joining the Wellington Aero Club and securing his “A” pilot's licence at Wigram in 1936. After earning a private pilot's licence he applied for a short-term commission in the Royal Air Force. [Bowyer 2001, p. 68.]

Upon acceptance by the RAF, Kain arrived in the United Kingdom in November 1936 and, receiving his short-term commission in December, he was enrolled as a pupil pilot at Blackburn, Lincolnshire. After further training at Sealand and Tern Hill, he was posted in November 1937 to No. 73 Fighter Squadron, then equipped with the Gloster Gladiator biplane fighter. In 1938, the squadron converted to the new monoplane Hawker Hurricane. Kain was made Flying Officer in 1939.

econd World War

Before the start of hostilities, No. 73 Squadron RAF on 24 August 1939 was mobilised as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF). Appointed a section commander Kain flew on 80 fighter and escort operations over Le Havre, Louvres, Rheims, Verdun and other parts of enemy-occupied territory as No. 73 was one of the first units to engage the Luftwaffe. Four days after war was declared 73’s 16 Hurricane fighters flew across the Channel to France.

On 10 September 1939 Kain flew his first operational patrols without making contact with the enemy. His first victory occurred during a defensive patrol on 8 November. Kain had spotted a Dornier Do 17 of reconnaissance unit 1.(F)/123 above and ahead of him. As the Do 17 began to climb to 27,000 ft with Kain in pursuit, he made two attacks but saw no result. With his Hurricane showing signs of strain, he attacked again and the Dornier dived steeply. Kain followed but pulled out when he saw fabric peeling off his wings. The Dornier crashed into a village North West of Metz, exploding on impact and killing the crew. On 23 November he shot down another Do 17, of 3.(F)/22 near Conflans. Due to bad weather there was little flying in December, January and February. On 1 March 1940 Kain fought an action with two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters but his Hurricane was already damaged when he shot the first Bf 109 down in flames. The second fighter, possibly flown by Oblt Werner Molders of III./JG 53, [ Shores and Williams 1994] attacked him, hitting the Hurricane’s engine with a cannon shell and then flew off, leaving Kain to glide in his crippled aircraft 30 miles from 20,000 ft to reach French territory. When his engine caught fire, Kain prepared to bale out but had to re-enter the cockpit when he realized his parachute strap was not in position. Fortunately the flames went out and Kain glided on to a forced-landing on Metz aerodrome.

DFC action

In March 1940, Kain was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a particularly daring action. While flying on operations, he sighted seven enemy Bf 109 fighters above him at 5,000 ft. Immediately giving chase and while pursuing them back towards the German lines, Kain discovered another enemy fighter on his tail. Attacked from behind, and with his own Hurricane fighter badly damaged, he engaged the enemy and shot it down. With his cockpit full of smoke and oil, he managed to bring his Hurricane down behind the Allied lines. The citation for the award referred to "the magnificent fighting spirit Kain displayed in outmanoeuvring his enemy and destroying him." [ [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/K/KainEdgarJames/KainEdgarJames/en Kain, Edgar James (1918–40): Fighter pilot.] ]

"Phoney War"

On 26 March Kain destroyed a Bf 109 and probably a second of JG 53 but then with his own engine on fire he baled out, with shell splinters to his left leg, a bullet-grazed left hand and burns to the face.

Kain went on leave to England on 2 April and before he returned, his engagement was announced. Back with the squadron he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on 23 April. During the Phoney war from September 1939 to March 1940, Kain shot down five aircraft.

"Blitzkrieg"

On 10 May 1940, the German forces launched the "blitzkrieg" through the Low countries and France; in the next ten days Kain destroyed five more enemy aircraft including an unusual Do 17 victory on 15 May where the enemy crew (of KG 3)was seen to bale out when Kain had attacked in a head-on pass. [ Bowyer 2001, p. 72.] and probably destroyed or damaged another five.

On 22 May he was again posted back to England with other pilots but on arrival Kain and another pilot were ordered to immediately report back to 73 Squadron. They were put on administrative duties and Kain did not fly again until 25 May when he destroyed a Do 17 but had to make an emergency landing in his damaged Hurricane. He subsequently destroyed an Henschel Hs 126 on 26 May and another Do 17 on 27 May. Kain continued to fly as his unit retreated from one airfield to the next during the Allied retreat to Dunkirk and on 5 June, he shot down a Bf 109.

Officially credited with the destruction of 16 enemy aircraft and 1 damaged in fighter engagements, Kain was mentioned in dispatches on 27 February 1940.

Final sortie

By 6 June 1940 Kain was the RAF's top ace, and he was informed he would be returning to England the next day. The following morning, a group of his squadron mates gathered at Bois airfield to bid him farewell as he took off in his Hurricane to fly to Le Mans to collect his kit. Unexpectedly, Kain began a "beat-up" of the airfield, performing a series of low level aerobatics in Hurricane I "L1826". Commencing a series of "flick" rolls, on his third roll, the ace misjudged his altitude and hit the ground heavily in a level attitude. Kain died when he was pitched out of the cockpit, striking the ground 27 m in front of the exploding Hurricane. Kain is buried in Choloy Military Cemetery.

Media "star"

Based on his exploits in the air as well as an engaging, friendly manner, "Cobber" (New Zealand slang for "pal") Kain was treated as a popular hero by the RAF as well as the media.

Kain is sometimes incorrectly credited as the first Allied ace, (not just RAF), of the Second World War. However, this distinction actually went to Stanisław Skalski of the Polish Air Force.

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Bowyer, Chaz. "Fighter Pilots of the RAF: 1939-1945". London: Pen & Sword Books, 2001. ISBN 0-85052-786-4.
* Burns, Michael G. "Cobber Kain". Auckland, New Zealand: Random Century, 1992. ISBN 0-95836-932-1.
* Hess, William N. "The Allied Aces of World War II". New York: Arco Publishing Co., 1966.
* Shores, Christopher. "Fighter Aces". London: Hamlyn Publishing, 1975. ISBN 0-600-30230-X.
* Shores, Christopher and Clive Williams. "Aces High". London: Grub Street, 1994. ISBN 1-89869-700-0.

External links

* [http://www.airops.freeserve.co.uk/digbyops/scripts/photos.htm "Cobber and his Hurricane "P for Paddy" shot down his second aircraft at the extreme height of 27,000 feet"]
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/K/KainEdgarJames/KainEdgarJames/en "Attacked from behind, and with his own craft considerably damaged, he engaged the enemy plane and shot it down"(from the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand)]
* [http://www.pinetreeline.org/metz/photos/metz547.jpgPicture of F/O Cobber Kain]
* [http://www.pinetreeline.org/metz/otherm7/otherm7-17.html His career]
* [http://www.pinetreeline.org/metz/choloy/pcholoy/choloy399.jpgPhoto of Cobber Kain's grave in Choloy Military Cemetery]