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Post by Calum on Aug 12, 2006 23:17:14 GMT 12
Was reading Hurricane Aces of 1939-40 today and discovered Cobber Kain was the first RAF ace of WW2. This would make a nice addition to my expanding NZ WW2 aircraft and anyway I've always thought the hurricane was cooler than that flashly spitfire :-) Now I need to build a model of his first hurricane. Anyone know if there has been a decal sheet done of Cobber's first Hurricane. I beleive he flew with 73 Sqn BTW what a waste, the way he died  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2006 23:31:08 GMT 12
He was indeed with No. 73 Squadron. I don't know if he had a particular aircraft, as it was a squadron then that seemed to rotate a/c round between the pilots. It would have been in the scheme with half black, half white underneath, like Sir Tim's ex-73 Sqn Hurricane. His flew at the flypast for Cobbers funeral by the way, but Cobber never flew that particular aircraft.
It was a waste, but he had already cheated death a few times. He blacked out in a long dive during combat and only came to in the nick of time on one occasion. He was no doubt burned out, as he was going on leave after prolongurd combat. Very sad.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2006 23:34:32 GMT 12
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Post by Calum on Aug 13, 2006 0:47:06 GMT 12
Thanks dave
Even if there isn't a sheet the book has enough info. Just means more work.
it's on the "to do" list
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Post by smithy on Aug 13, 2006 11:25:46 GMT 12
Calum, if you're interested in doing one of Cobber's Hurries, you're more than welcome to PM me as I have a large amount of info on the man. Of particular use I have his biograhpy and Don Minterne's encyclopædic work on 73 which is a goldmine. I also have a lot of articles and supplimentary info on him.
Talking decals, Aeromaster did his "Paddy III" on one sheet and this is the one which most people chose to depict, although he scored most of his victories in others.
Cheers,
Tim.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 13, 2006 15:16:04 GMT 12
Who wrote his biography Tim?
Did you know no-one actually knows exactly how many planes he shot down as he never really recorded some of them. In Alan W. Mitchell's book New Zealanders In The Air War' he says some fellow pilots thought he'd shot down up to 40 planes in the Battle of France alone.
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Post by Calum on Aug 13, 2006 21:34:01 GMT 12
Calum, if you're interested in doing one of Cobber's Hurries, you're more than welcome to PM me as I have a large amount of info on the man. Of particular use I have his biograhpy and Don Minterne's encyclopædic work on 73 which is a goldmine. I also have a lot of articles and supplimentary info on him. Talking decals, Aeromaster did his "Paddy III" on one sheet and this is the one which most people chose to depict, although he scored most of his victories in others. Cheers, Tim. HI Tim Thsks for the offer. I haven't get the kit yet but I'll be in touch one day ;-) |
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Post by smithy on Aug 14, 2006 0:40:15 GMT 12
Who wrote his biography Tim? Did you know no-one actually knows exactly how many planes he shot down as he never really recorded some of them. In Alan W. Mitchell's book New Zealanders In The Air War' he says some fellow pilots thought he'd shot down up to 40 planes in the Battle of France alone. Hi Dave, Michael Burns wrote the biography, but to be honest it's a little bit controversial. Judy (Cobber's sister) told me a couple of years ago that the family wasn't that thrilled about it and that they thought parts of it were a little bit "off". Victory-wise you are right Dave, to be honest Cobber's exact score will probably never be truly known, but it is almost completely certain that it is higher than the 17 usually given. The fighting after 10th May was incredibly ferocious and 73 were fighting constantly and being relocated from airfield to airfield. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that Cobber and the other members from 73 were so busy that combat reports were not always given after action (no time), and records were also lost in the evacution back to England. What is incredible is that Cobber obtained a score that is hugely impressive in a relatively short space of time. Who knows what might have been if he had survived, done his time as an instructor (as he was off to do when killed) and then gone back on ops. And Calum, no rush, PM me anytime that you're after something that might help. Tim. |
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