Roy King (1894–1941) was a fighter ace in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during World War I. He was credited with twenty-six victories in aerial combat, making him the second most successful ace in the AFC after Harry Cobby, and the fourth highest-scoring Australian ace of the war. A civil pilot and engineer between the wars, he served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1939 until his death. King initially saw active service as a lighthorseman in Egypt in 1916. He transferred to the AFC as a mechanic in January 1917, and was commissioned that year as a pilot. Posted to No. 4 Squadron, he flew Sopwith Camels and Snipes on the Western Front. He scored seven of his victories in the Snipe, more than any other pilot. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and a mention in despatches. Returning to Australia in 1919, King spent some years in civil aviation before co-founding a successful engineering business. He joined the RAAF following the outbreak of World War II and held several training commands, rising to the rank of group captain shortly before his sudden death in November 1941 aged forty-seven.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1443:

Having deserted the army of the Ottoman Empire, Skanderbeg went to Krujë in Middle Albania and using a forged letter from Sultan Murad II to the Governor of Krujë, became lord of the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanderbeg

1660:

At London's Gresham College, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, Christopher Wren and other leading scientists founded a learned society now known as the Royal Society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society

1919:

Nancy Astor, the first woman to serve as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, was elected in a by-election. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Astor,_Viscountess_Astor

1943:

World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin (all three pictured) met at the Tehran Conference to discuss war strategy against the Axis powers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Conference

1987:

South African Airways Flight 295 suffered a catastrophic in- flight fire and crashed into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius, killing all 159 on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Airways_Flight_295

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

tractator: 1. (historical) In medieval commerce, the person who handles or transports merchandise on behalf of an investor. 2. A person who writes tracts. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tractator

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Let it go, let it go! I am one with the wind and sky! Let it go, let it go! You'll never see me cry… Let it go, let it go! And I'll rise like the break of dawn Let it go, let it go! That perfect girl is gone Here I stand In the light of day! Let the storm rage on! The cold never bothered me anyway!   --Frozen https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Frozen_(2013_film)