EMPIRE UNITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 33, 18 November 1939, Page 5

EMPIRE UNITY.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AIR FIGHT.

-(Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, November 17. At a-Press conference the Secretary of State for the Dominions (Mir R. A. Eden) and the Dominion Ministers emphasised Empire unity in wartime. Mr Peter Fraser’ told of two similarly named New Zealand exschoolmates, both in. the same squadron, whose letters became inextricably mixed, but New Zealand expressed the highest .appreciation of the manner in which they conducted themselves in a. mix-up in an air combat. • EDGAR KAIN’S CAREER. EARNED RAPID PROMOTION. WELLINGTON, November 17. Though details are vague it appears certain that the pilot referred to as having brought down a raider from a record height is, ja son. of Mr R-. G. Kain of Wadestown, Wellington. Mr Kain said to-day that his. son had a namesake/ in the same squadron, who was also a New Zealander, but whereas his son’s age, 21, tallied with that given in the cablegram, the- other Kains age was 26, and ho did not come from Wellington. Acting-Squadron Leader Kain was educated at Christ’s College, Christchurch, where he was a boarder from 1933 till 1935. After leaving he trained at the Rongotai aerodrome, Wellington, under Squadron Leader G. L. Steelman. He completed his training at Wigram aerodrome, Christchurch, where he took his A licence toward the end of 1936, and he left for England with his parents shortly aftenvwds. He qualified for the R-.A.F, on arrival, and on December J 1 went into a training camp at Blackburn. After three months there he. was posted to Uxbridge, where ho qualified as pilotofficer. On qualifying he was given his choice of squadrons and chose- the fight-qv planes. . He rose rapidly and was promoted acting-squadron leader shortly before the outbreak of war. Known in his squadrons as “Cobber,” ho is one- of. the youngest men in the R-.A.F. holding the rank of acting-squadron leader.