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>
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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)>
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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>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Men may move mountains, but ideas move men.  ䷊
☳☶ ䷋ ☳☶
--Lois McMaster Bujold
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lois_McMaster_Bujold>