Cobber Kain shoot down March 26, 1940 Hurricane ID

[paulmcmillan]

All

Most publish works including BoFTaN and Fighter Command Losses Vol 1 list his Hurricane as L1766, RAF Casualty Battle Packs AIR 81/104 says Hurricane P2543

F C Losses Vol1 says (I have not checked) Written off in a crash 5th October 1940 with 6 OTU

P2543 is listed as 73 Sqn lost in France

Can anyone square this circle could Lovell or Orton be flying L1766 (which was the repaired)

Paul

[Chris Goss]

L1766 went to 6 OTU from 73 Sqn & was lost 5 Oct 40
P2543 was abandoned in France in May 40

[MarkRS]

From Don Minterne, The History of 73 Squadron part 1:
26 March 1940
In the afternoon Perry and Pyne each claimed a Do 17, then came news that EJ Kain had bailed out from L1766.

Not mentioned if the aircraft was recovered and there is no mention of L1766 after that in connection with Kain, Lovell or Orton.

Mark

[rafcommands]

F1180 for 5th Oct 1940

L1766 recorded as Cat W at Sutton Bridge. Engine failure in flight, landed u/c retracted, no flaps, pushed nose down to avoid hitting buildings, ran through hedge and into pond.

Pilot P/O C C H Davies, 1 hour on type.

Regards
Ross

[paulmcmillan]

All thanks I wonder if the source of L1766 is whatever Minterne used and this has been continued ever since. I wonder what EOE will say?

[Peter Cornwell]

Paul,

EOE say a collective 'Thank you'. The error over L1766 had already been pointed out by Martin Gleeson some time ago but the true ID of this Hurricane remained unknown until your most recent input. A neat example (if one were needed) of the potential value of the AIR81 documents as a source. Thanks again.

[paulmcmillan]

Peter

No Problem -glad I could help! If anyone has AIR 81/104 I just wonder (just wonder) if I references Lovell and/or Orton on same date. especially as it appears Orton was flying on same mission

Paul

[JohnE]

Kain has the code as "P" on this date in his log book. On the 10th of March he writes "New P".

John Engelsted

[paulmcmillan]

I have now had visibility of AIR/104 includes a Personal Combat Report for F/O Kain for his shoot down and bale out of P2543 on 26/3/1940

he was flying at 13:30 hours on patrol as Green I in a Flight with P/O Perry (Green II) and Sgt Pyne (Green III) in 'his Flight ordered on patrol'

He was shot down at 14:30 and baled out and landed at Ritzing alongside at Wood, his aircraft crashed approx. 3 Mile NW of Evendorff and was burnt out

A Casualty form included confirms Hurricane serial as P2543


P/O Perry is

P/O James Garland Perry #40424 73 Sqn Killed 29/03/1940 aged 22

Sgt Pyne is

Sgt Thomas Basil George Pyne #565921 73 Sqn Killed 14/05/1940 aged 24


I now suspect Orton was NOT flying on same mission as probably in another Flight




Paul

[Melvin Brownless]

Originally Posted by JohnE

Kain has the code as "P" on this date in his log book. On the 10th of March he writes "New P".

John Engelsted

Hi Guys, found this image of Kain with Hurricane "P" on the IWM website only the other day. Caption reads; Flying Officer E J 'Cobber' Kain standing by his Hawker Hurricane Mark I Paddy III at Rouvres, no date but very nice photo of "Cobber".

Regards,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk