Roderic Dallas (1891–1918) was an Australian fighter ace of World War I. His official score of aerial victories (39) is generally regarded as the second-highest by an Australian, after Robert Little with 47, but researchers have credited Dallas with totals from 32 to over 50. He also achieved success as a squadron leader, and was an influential tactician and test pilot. Like Little, Dallas flew with British units, rather than the Australian Flying Corps. He travelled to England at his own expense following the outbreak of war and became a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in August 1915. Initially flying Caudrons and Nieuport 11s on the Western Front, he was chosen to test one of the earliest Sopwith Triplanes. This became his favourite type, and he achieved many victories with it through 1916–17, earning the Distinguished Service Order, and the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar. Appointed commanding officer of No. 1 Squadron RNAS in June 1917, on the establishment of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 he took command of No. 40 Squadron. Flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s, he achieved further victories before being killed in action on patrol in northern France.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roderic_Dallas
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1889:
The Dakota Territory, an organized incorporated territory of the United States, was split and became the states of North and South Dakota. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota
1932:
The Australian military began a "war against emus", a flightless native bird blamed for widespread damage to crops in Western Australia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_War
1964:
King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed by his half-brother Faisal over concerns of the former's profligacy and his inability to deal with the socialism of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saud_of_Saudi_Arabia
1990:
Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting merged to form BSkyB, the largest pay-TV broadcaster in the United Kingdom and Ireland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSkyB
2004:
Dutch film director Theo van Gogh, whose film Submission was critical of the treatment of women in Islam, was assassinated by Mohammed Bouyeri. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_van_Gogh_(film_director)
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
tell it to the marines: (idiomatic) I do not believe what you said. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tell_it_to_the_marines
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Men may move mountains, but ideas move men.  ䷊ ☳☶ ䷋ ☳☶ --Lois McMaster Bujold https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lois_McMaster_Bujold