Heinrich Bär (1913–57) was a German Luftwaffe flying ace in World War II. He flew more than 1,000 combat missions, and fought in all major German theatres of the war, including the Western, Eastern and Mediterranean fronts. He was shot down on 18 occasions and was credited with 220 aerial victories, around 16 of which were in the Messerschmitt Me 262, an early jet fighter. Bär joined the Reichswehr in 1934 and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. Serving first as a mechanic, then as a pilot on transport aircraft, he was informally trained as a fighter pilot. He claimed his first aerial victory in September 1939 on the French border. By the end of the Battle of Britain, his tally of victories was 17. Transferred to the Eastern front to participate in Operation Barbarossa, he quickly accumulated further kills, earning the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords for 90 aerial victories in February 1942. Hermann Göring's personal dislike of Bär, coupled with Bär's insubordinate character and lack of military discipline, deprived him of higher awards. After the war, Bär continued as an aviator, and was killed in a flying accident near Braunschweig.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_B%C3%A4r
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
451:
Armenian rebels were defeated by forces of the Sassanid Empire on the Avarayr Plain in Vaspurakan, but the loss played a major factor in their being granted religious freedom 33 years later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Avarayr
1644:
Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claimed victory in the Battle of Montijo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Montijo
1906:
Vauxhall Bridge in London opened, crossing the River Thames between Vauxhall and Westminster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Bridge
1938:
The House Un-American Activities Committee was established to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by people or organizations suspected of having communist or fascist ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Un-American_Activities_Committee
1991:
Lauda Air Flight 004 experienced an uncommanded thrust reverser deployment of an engine and broke apart in mid-air, killing all 223 people on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauda_Air_Flight_004
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
eyrie: 1. A bird of prey's nest. 2. Any high and remote but commanding place. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eyrie
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I was frustrated that computer hardware was being improved faster than computer software. I wanted to invent some software that was completely different, that would grow and change as it was used. That’s how wiki came about. --Ward Cunningham https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ward_Cunningham