Who Was Cobber Kain?

Born With Talent

Edgar “Cobber” Kain was a New Zealand fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during WWII. His interest in aviation at a young age landed him a spot in the RAF’s No. 73 Squadron in 1936 as an 18-year-old.

Kain quickly proved his worth while piloting the Gloster Gladiator and the Hawker Hurricane during the Phoney War and the Battle of Britain. He became the RAF’s first flying ace and the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross of WWII after claiming his fifth victory in March 1940.

His most famous accomplishment came during the Battle of Britain, where Kain managed to destroy 16 enemy aircraft alone.

Unfortunately, Kain had his life cut short at the age of 21 after his Hawker Hurricane crashed during a series of low-level aerobatics as a salute to his comrades.