100px|McCauley in 1953

John McCauley (1899–1989) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1954 to 1957. A Duntroon graduate, McCauley spent four years in the Australian Military Forces before transferring to the RAAF in 1924. Having been promoted to group captain in 1940, he was posted to Singapore in June 1941 to take charge of all RAAF units defending the area. He earned praise for his efforts in attacking invading Japanese forces before the fall of Singapore, and for his dedication in evacuating his men. He was later appointed to a senior operational role with the Royal Air Force's 2nd Tactical Air Force in Europe, where he saw out the rest of the war. In 1947 he was promoted to air vice marshal and appointed Chief of Staff at British Commonwealth Occupation Force Headquarters in Japan. He took up the position of Chief of the Air Staff in January 1954, and was knighted a year later. During his tenure in the RAAF's senior role, McCauley focused on potential deployments to Southeast Asia—particularly Vietnam—and threats from the north, commencing redevelopment of RAAF Base Darwin and recommending purchase of a light supersonic bomber to replace the Air Force's English Electric Canberra. After retiring from military life in March 1957, he chaired various community and welfare organisations. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1560:

The Treaty of Berwick was signed, which set the terms under which an English fleet and army could come to Scotland to expel the French troops who were defending the Regency of Mary of Guise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Berwick_%281560%29

1801:

Under the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C., a new planned city and capital of the United States, was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Washington%2C_D.C.

1812:

Manuel Belgrano raised the Flag of Argentina, which he designed, for the first time in the city of Rosario, during the Argentine War of Independence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Belgrano

1940:

American biochemists Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered the radioactive isotope carbon-14, which today is used extensively as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological samples. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/carbon-14

1982:

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, known for its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas, gave its last performance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Oyly_Carte_Opera_Company

2002:

A Sabarmati Express train was set on fire right after it left the train station in Godhra, India, killing more than 55 Hindu pilgrims. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhra_train_burning

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

postremogeniture (n): Inheritance by the last-born child of the entirety of, or of a privileged position in, a parent’s wealth, estate, or office http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/postremogeniture

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Every great poem is in itself limited by necessity, — but in its suggestions unlimited and infinite. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Wadsworth_Longfellow