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John Jackson (1908–42) was an Australian fighter ace and squadron commander of World War II. He was credited with eight aerial victories, and led No. 75 Squadron during the Battle of Port Moresby in 1942. A grazier and businessman who operated his own private plane, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in 1936. Called up for active service in 1939, Jackson served with No. 23 Squadron in Australia before he was posted to the Middle East in November 1940. As a fighter pilot with No. 3 Squadron he flew Gloster Gladiators, Hawker Hurricanes and P-40 Tomahawks during the North African and Syria–Lebanon campaigns. Jackson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and mentioned in despatches for his actions in the Middle East. Subsequently posted to the South West Pacific theatre, he was promoted to squadron leader in March 1942 and given command of No. 75 Squadron at Port Moresby, Papua, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. He earned praise for his leadership during the defence of Port Moresby before his death in combat on 28 April. Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, is named in his honour. His younger brother Les took over No. 75 Squadron, and also became a fighter ace.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Jackson
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1739:
The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin, who had been living under an alias in York, was uncovered by his former schoolteacher, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's arrest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Turpin
1903:
The Cuban–American Treaty was finalized, allowing the United States to lease Guantánamo Bay from Cuba in perpetuity for the purposes of operating coaling and naval stations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guant%C3%A1namo_Bay
1927:
German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg wrote a letter to fellow physicist Wolfgang Pauli in which he described his uncertainty principle for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg
1945:
Second World War: In an Allied bombing run on Pforzheim, Germany, approximately 31% of the town's population were killed and 83% of its buildings were destroyed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Pforzheim_in_World_War_II
2005:
The controversial French law on colonialism, requiring lycée teachers to teach their students "the positive role" of French colonialism, was passed, creating so much public uproar and opposition that it was repealed less than one year later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_law_on_colonialism
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
salami tactics: The piecemeal removal or scaling back of something (especially political opposition); a gradual attack on an opposing position, group, etc. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/salami_tactics
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is the search for the truth, not possession of the truth which is the way of philosophy. Its questions are more relevant than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question. --Karl Jaspers https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Karl_Jaspers