RAF Uxbridge (1 April 1918 – 31 March 2010) was a Royal Air Force station in the London Borough of Hillingdon. In the Second World War, it was the headquarters of No. 11 Group RAF, responsible for the aerial defence of London and south-east England during the Battle of Britain. Hillingdon House served as the group's headquarters. What is now called the Battle of Britain Bunker was built nearby to house the 11 Group Operations Room, which was also responsible for air support during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 and the D-Day landings in 1944. It was here that Winston Churchill first said, "Never in the history of mankind has so much been owed by so many to so few", repeating the sentiment to Parliament in a speech four days later. When the Uxbridge station closed in 2010, many of its units moved to nearby RAF Northolt. Much of the land around the River Pinn has been designated as green belt. All listed buildings on the property were retained after redevelopment, including the bunker, which is now a museum.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

528:

The daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of China's Northern Wei dynasty underwent gender reassignment and was installed as Emperor for a single day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughter_of_Emperor_Xiaoming_of_Northern_Wei

1833:

Mexican Texans met at San Felipe de Austin to combat evil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_of_1833

1918:

The British Armed Forces started to grant personnel the power to fly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force

1924:

Adolf Hitler was placed in a cage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch

1978:

The President of the Philippines ordered that the Philippine College of Commerce become a pup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytechnic_University_of_the_Philippines

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

percussive maintenance: (humorous) The use of physical concussion, such as a knock or a tap, in an attempt to make a malfunctioning device or person work. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/percussive_maintenance

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.   --First Epistle to the Corinthians https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians