Werner Mölders (1913–1941) was a German Luftwaffe pilot. He was the
leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War; in World War II,
he became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial
victories. The highly decorated Mölders was instrumental in the
development of new fighter tactics which led to the finger-four
formation. In 1938, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion,
which supported General Francisco Franco's Nationalist Falange in the
Spanish Civil War, and shot down 15 aircraft. In World War II, he
claimed 101 aerial victories for which he received the Knight's Cross
of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Banned from
flying further combat missions Mölders was promoted to Oberst, and
appointed Inspector General of Fighters. He was killed in an aircraft
crash, in which he was traveling as a passenger. The German Wehrmacht
of the Third Reich and the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of
Germany both honoured him by naming two fighter wings, a destroyer and
barracks after him. In the 1970s–1990s, he became part of a broader
discussion in Germany over remembering the Holocaust and honouring
decorated soldiers of the Third Reich.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_M%C3%B6lders>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1831:
After a bloody battle with the military causing 600 casualties,
rebellious silkworkers seized Lyon, France, beginning the First Canut
Revolt.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canut_revolts>
1869:
The Cutty Sark, one of the last sailing clippers ever to be built, was
launched at Dumbarton in Scotland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Sark>
1887:
The first college lacrosse game was played between New York University
and Manhattan College.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/college_lacrosse>
1963:
Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United
States aboard Air Force One hours after John F. Kennedy was
assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination>
1995:
Toy Story, the first feature film created using only computer-generated
imagery, was released.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story>
2004:
Massive protests started in cities across Ukraine, resulting from
allegations that the Ukrainian presidential election between sitting
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and leader of the opposition coalition
Viktor Yushchenko was rigged.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Revolution>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
leaven (v):
1. To add an agent, such as yeast, used to make dough rise.
2. To cause to rise by fermentation
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leaven>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Human feeling is like the mighty rivers that bless the earth: it does
not wait for beauty — it flows with resistless force and brings beauty
with it.
--George Eliot
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Eliot>