Vance Drummond (1927–1967) was a New Zealand–born Australian pilot
who fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Posted to No. 77 Squadron in
Korea, he flew Gloster Meteor jet fighters and earned the US Air Medal
for his combat skills. He was shot down in 1951 and imprisoned for
almost two years. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1965 after
leading the Black Diamonds aerobatic team of No. 75 Squadron. Drummond
was promoted to acting wing commander in 1965 and posted to South
Vietnam on staff duties with the US Air Force. He joined their 19th
Tactical Air Support Squadron, operating Cessna Bird Dog aircraft, as a
forward air controller in July 1966. That month he earned the
Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in rescuing a company of
soldiers surrounded by Viet Cong forces. Returning to Australia, he took
command of No. 3 Squadron in February 1967. His Dassault Mirage IIIO
crashed into the sea during a training exercise in May; neither Drummond
nor the aircraft was found.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vance_Drummond>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1915:
First World War: The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
landed at Anzac Cove while British and French troops landed at Cape
Helles to begin the Allied invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula in the
Ottoman Empire.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_campaign>
1960:
The U.S. Navy submarine Triton completed the first submerged
circumnavigation of the world.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sandblast>
1983:
The first issue of The Jakarta Post was published in Indonesia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jakarta_Post>
2015:
Nepal was struck by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, killing more
than 8,000 people, including 22 from avalanches on Mount Everest.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Mount_Everest_avalanches>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
runholder:
(Australia, New Zealand) A person who holds (leases or owns) a run
(“rural landholding for farming”), especially one for raising sheep.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/runholder>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to
attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear
inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far
away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
--Sun Tzu
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu>