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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>