Flying Officer Kain

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21676, 10 June 1940, Page 4

Flying Officer Kain

IN the past few months New Zealand has been I stirred by accounts of the exploits of Flying Officer E. J. Kain, a young Dominion pilot who had the honour of becoming the first British “ace” of the war. According to latest reports he had brought, down more than 40 German aeroplanes and during his relatively short career he had sudh remarkable escapes that it seemed as if his charmed life might continue indefinitely. But now his romanlie fighting career has been closed. A man to whom danger appeared to mean nothing would be expected to go wherever danger was. This disregard for danger is the greatest quality a fighting airman can have, but it does not enhance the chances of a long life. Flying Officer Kain was an important figure, not because lie was able to achieve successes in combat which placed him in the front rank of British airmen, but because he became for New Zealand a symbol fot a new fighting service. Already hundreds of Dominion pilots are serving with the Royal Air Force, and more than can be handled in the various training areas are ready for perilous duty. The achievements of .“Cobber” Kain are an inspiration to them; all will hope to do as he has done. In a general way he will stand in the public memory to-day as a young man who feared nothing and served his country well, lie will have many worthy successors.