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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 22, 2018 23:32:42 GMT 12
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Post by planecrazy on Nov 23, 2018 9:52:30 GMT 12
That was great!
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Nov 24, 2018 9:58:52 GMT 12
Excellent, thanks for the link Dave It's great to see he's remembered in his (our) old hometown of Hastings with a street named after him and some artwork in one of the main streets.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 24, 2018 10:38:25 GMT 12
I absolutely love his quip at the end about his mother's cables.
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Nov 25, 2018 11:20:56 GMT 12
I found this combat report from Cobber along with his flying glove.
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Post by smithy on Nov 25, 2018 11:29:34 GMT 12
I've listened to that before but not for a long time so thanks for the reminder Dave, it's a wonderful piece.
I'll be honest, Cobber is one of my greatest heroes and I grab everything I can about him. Don Minterne who wrote the amazing 73 Sqn history put me in touch with Cobber's sister Judy back in the mid noughties and I had the very great pleasure of corresponding with her for some time. She was like her brother a wonderful character and even after all that time was hugely proud of her big brother.
He is one of the most special of our heroes and really deserves a lot more recognition back home. I would dearly love for someone like Sir PJ to make a film about him as his meteoric career in the RAF is legendary and is a fantastic story.
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Post by flyinkiwi on Nov 26, 2018 7:51:17 GMT 12
An Canadian who plays World of Warplanes re-skinned a Hurricane 1 to look like Kain's mount "Paddy III":
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Post by davidd on Nov 26, 2018 8:11:04 GMT 12
Interesting to read the combat report, and compare it with later reports from the Battle of Britain period. Apparent that in France in March 1940 there was no complete radar coverage to control interceptions (and I don't think the type of early warning radar then in use was of much value over land anyway) so that they were forced to use the old WW1 technique of mounting standing patrols and keeping their heads swivelling, and their eyes wide open. Also note that the vic of three comprised the standard fighter section, with one leader searching, and two wing men concentrating on following their leader, and this formation was of course used right through the B of B. David D
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Post by smithy on Nov 26, 2018 20:28:59 GMT 12
Interesting to read the combat report, and compare it with later reports from the Battle of Britain period. Apparent that in France in March 1940 there was no complete radar coverage to control interceptions (and I don't think the type of early warning radar then in use was of much value over land anyway) so that they were forced to use the old WW1 technique of mounting standing patrols and keeping their heads swivelling, and their eyes wide open. Also note that the vic of three comprised the standard fighter section, with one leader searching, and two wing men concentrating on following their leader, and this formation was of course used right through the B of B. David D There was no proper ground control for the AASF during the Phoney War or Battle of France so the fighter component were indeed using WWI patrolling techniques of flying offensive and defensive line patrols. Apart from being able to communicate with each other, most squadrons were operating on their own radio nets so unable even to communicate with other squadrons. For most patrol jobs the procedure was much like 20 odd years earlier in WWI, there was a quick chat from flight commanders and then up they went flying their predesignated patrol lines. In terms of vics, the vast majority of RAF Fighter Command squadrons continued to use the formation until well after the Battle of Britain, undoubtedly resulting in the loss of many pilots.
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Post by planecrazy on Nov 26, 2018 20:56:59 GMT 12
He is recognised in Australia as well, Kain Avenue Matraville, Sydney NSW 2036. The next street along ANZAC Parade heading south is called Hilary Parade.
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Post by smithy on Nov 26, 2018 21:43:18 GMT 12
It's often forgotten just how well known Cobber became known once his identity got out and the RAF acquiesced to a modicum of press interest. He was a household name throughout the Commonwealth and he was even hailed in the USA in the media. He was on newsreels, in the papers and magazines. It could be argued that at that time, no airman in wartime had received such a level of public interest since Ball.
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