John Lloyd Waddy (1916–1987) was a senior officer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force, who later served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Minister of the Crown. As a fighter pilot during World War II, he shot down fifteen enemy aircraft in the Desert War, becoming one of Australia's top-scoring aces and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He went on to command No. 80 Squadron in the South West Pacific, where he was awarded the US Air Medal. He was also one of eight senior pilots who took part in the "Morotai Mutiny" of April 1945. He led the Air Force Reserve as a group captain in the early 1950s. Active in business and in veterans' groups, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1955. As the Liberal Member for Kirribilli from 1962 to 1976, he held cabinet posts in the New South Wales Parliament, including Minister for Child Welfare and Social Welfare (later Youth and Community Services), Minister for Health, and Minister for Police and Services.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lloyd_Waddy

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1777:

American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then dismantled the Hudson River Chain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Forts_Clinton_and_Montgomery

1910:

Eleftherios Venizelos was elected Prime Minister of Greece for the first of his seven non-consecutive terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleftherios_Venizelos

1927:

The first successful feature sound film The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jazz_Singer

1985:

Police constable Keith Blakelock was killed during rioting in the Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham, London. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Keith_Blakelock

2000:

Denouncing corruption in the administration of Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa and in the Senate, Vice President Carlos Álvarez resigned from his office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_%C3%81lvarez_(politician)

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

whinge: 1. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To complain, especially in an annoying or persistent manner. 2. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To whine. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whinge

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I hate the whole übermensch, superman temptation that pervades science fiction. I believe no protagonist should be so competent, so awe-inspiring, that a committee of 20 really hard-working, intelligent people couldn't do the same thing.   --David Brin https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Brin