Edgar James Kain

Forenames

Edgar James AWMM

Surname

Kain AWMM

Also known as

Cobber AWMM

Service number

• WWII 39534 AWMM
• NZ39534
  Public - John - Researcher - 18 May 2022 - Military records

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

27 Jun 1918 AWMM

Next of kin

• WW2 George William Reginald and Nellie Maira Kain, Wadestown, Wellington AWMM
• WW2 Father: Mr. G. W. R. Kain. P. O. Box 452, Wellington. Mother: Mrs. N. Kain. 19 Orchard St, Wadestown, Wellington AWMM
• WW2 Mr. G. W. R. Kain of Wellington AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

Europe (Air) AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• WWII 39534 AWMM
• NZ39534
  Public - John - Researcher - 18 May 2022 - Military records

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal Air Force, No. 73 Squadron AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
• Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
• 1939-1945 Star AWMM
• Air Crew Europe Star AWMM

Enlistment

• Inter War 1936 AWMM
• WW2 Clerk/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Royal Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed in an aircraft accident AWMM

Last rank

WW2 Flying Officer (Pilot)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 73 Squadron AWMM

Son of Reginald G. Kain, and of Nellie Kain, of Wadestown, Wellington

Enlisted with the RAF in England, he attended elementary flying training in Brough, Hampshire, and the promoted to acting pilot on 21 December 1936.

He became engaged to English actress Joyce Philips a few weeks before he was killed

Credited with shooting down 16 enemy aircraft.

Attended Christs College. Christchurch (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845612)) AWMM

Death

7 Jun 1940 AWMM
Age  21 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Air Accident AWMM

Cemetery

Choloy War Cemetery, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France AWMM 1A. C. 8. AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Maxwell, G. 1920. The Motor Launch Patrol. London, U.K etc.: J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd. Digital copy.
  http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/K/KainEdgarJames/KainEdgarJames/en
  Further Reference
• Wings over Cambridge website. Biography.
  http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Cobber%20Kain.htm
  Further Reference
• Kain family: Papers and photographs relating to the life and career of Edgar James 'Cobber' Kain
  https://natlib.govt.nz/records/37136701
  Further Reference
• 'Cobber' Kain's Death, Press, 11 June 1940
  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19400611.2.54
  Further Reference
• 'An Inspiration to Youth' Evening Post, 10 June 1940
  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400610.2.53
  Further Reference
• War Diary of No 73 Squadron RAF, July 1940 - January 1941, Imperial War Memorial
  https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030009235
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5337309
  Further Reference
• Romano, Gail. 'So what the hell'. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 10 September 2021
  https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/so-what-the-hell
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2319806
  Further Reference
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Sm- Ty. Archives New Zealand (R17845616)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845612
  Sources Used
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845744
  Sources Used
• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 15). List of World War II aces from New Zealand. In Wikipedia.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_aces_from_New_Zealand
  Further Reference
• New Zealand War Graves Trust
  https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Kain
  Machine gun from first plane shot down by
  Public - Te Papa - Researcher - 19 March 2015 - http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Object/58822

References

• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• Mitchell, A.W. (1945). New Zealanders in the Air War. London, England: Harrap.
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, Pictorial Collections: Official H Series [World War 1 photographs]
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ib - Ly. Archives New Zealand (R17845612) - Former archives reference: AIR118
• Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760).
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - List of New Zealand Fighter aces with their Scores (Unofficial) December 1944. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845799).
• Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
  V2,n3,p11 v1,n1,p41 v1,n2,p21 v1,n3,p38