British Forces

E.J.Kain,fighterpilot

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Edgar James Kain (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.[1] 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's RAF Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF). 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 German Luftwaffe. taken from fb/War in colors