No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight training
squadron that has been formed on four occasions. Established in April
1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, it saw
combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. The squadron
disbanded in November 1945 but re-formed in 1962 to operate CAC Sabres
(pictured) to help defend Thailand against a feared attack from
neighbouring states. No. 79 Squadron was active again in Malaysia
between 1986 and 1988, operating Mirage III fighters and a single DHC-4
Caribou transport. Re-formed in its present incarnation in 1998, it is
stationed at RAAF Base Pearce, where it has operated Hawk 127 jet
training aircraft since 2000. The unit's main role is to provide
introductory jet aircraft training to RAAF pilots and refresher training
on the Hawk for experienced pilots. No. 79 Squadron also supports
Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy training exercises in Western
Australia and the Northern Territory.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._79_Squadron_RAAF>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1644:
Ming–Qing transition: The Ming dynasty of China fell when the
Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide during a peasant rebellion led by Li
Zicheng.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_dynasty>
1932:
Gladys Elinor Watkins consecrated the carillon of the National
War Memorial in New Zealand (dedication pictured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Elinor_Watkins>
1946:
Two passenger trains collided in Naperville, Illinois, leaving
45 people dead and some 125 injured.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naperville_train_disaster>
1990:
Violeta Chamorro took office as president of Nicaragua,
becoming the first female head of state in the Americas to have been
elected in her own right.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violeta_Chamorro>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
chur:
1. (New Zealand, informal) A strong voicing of agreement, approval, or
thanks: awesome!, cheers!, ta!, thanks!.
2. (New Zealand, informal) A parting salutation: bye, see you later.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chur>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
I'm not the candidate of one faction anymore, but the president
for all of us. … I know full well that many in this country voted for
me not because they support my ideas but to block the far-right. I want
to thank them tonight, and know I owe them a debt in the years to come.
… We have so much to do, and the war in Ukraine reminds us that we are
going through tragic times, times where France must be heard, France
must clearly make its choices, and France must anchor its strength in
all fields, and we will do just that. … We also need to be careful and
respectful because our country is full of division and doubt. Therefore
we must be strong and no one will be left by the wayside. Together we
must work towards that unity which is the only way through which we can
live happier in France, and can overcome the challenges of the coming
years. The coming years won't be easy for sure, but they will be
historic, and together, we will write that story for the coming
generations.
--Emmanuel Macron
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron>