Cobber Kain
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Edgar James "Cobber" Kain (27 June 1918 - 6 June 1940), born in Hastings, New Zealand, was the first RAF air ace of World War II.
He was [1], and also the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II with 17 confirmed kills, mainly over France before the Battle of Britain. He was a household name in Britain in early 1940.
Joining the RAF in 1937, after training Kain was posted to No. 73 Squadron RAF in 1939, flying Hawker Hurricanes. Mobilised as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) Kain and 73 Squadron were one of the first units to engage the Luftwaffe, Kain shooting down 5 aircraft during the Phoney war from September 1939 to March 1940. By May the war had escalated and Kain continued scoring during the Allied retreat to Dunkirk.
By June 6 1940 Kain was the RAF's top ace, and he was informed he would be returning to England the next day. As he took off from Bois airfield he commenced a series of slow rolls, and his wing tip touched the ground. Kain was killed in the subsequent crash.
Kain is sometimes incorrectly credited as the first Allied ace, (not just RAF), of World War II. However, this distinction actually went to Stanisław Skalski of the Polish Air Force.
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