No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight training squadron that has been formed on four occasions. Established in April 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, it saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. The squadron disbanded in November 1945 but re-formed in 1962 to operate CAC Sabres (pictured) to help defend Thailand against a feared attack from neighbouring states. No. 79 Squadron was active again in Malaysia between 1986 and 1988, operating Mirage III fighters and a single DHC-4 Caribou transport. Re-formed in its present incarnation in 1998, it is stationed at RAAF Base Pearce, where it has operated Hawk 127 jet training aircraft since 2000. The unit's main role is to provide introductory jet aircraft training to RAAF pilots and refresher training on the Hawk for experienced pilots. No. 79 Squadron also supports Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy training exercises in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._79_Squadron_RAAF

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1644:

Ming–Qing transition: The Ming dynasty of China fell when the Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide during a peasant rebellion led by Li Zicheng. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_dynasty

1932:

Gladys Elinor Watkins consecrated the carillon of the National War Memorial in New Zealand (dedication pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Elinor_Watkins

1946:

Two passenger trains collided in Naperville, Illinois, leaving 45 people dead and some 125 injured. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naperville_train_disaster

1990:

Violeta Chamorro took office as president of Nicaragua, becoming the first female head of state in the Americas to have been elected in her own right. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violeta_Chamorro

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

chur: 1. (New Zealand, informal) A strong voicing of agreement, approval, or thanks: awesome!, cheers!, ta!, thanks!. 2. (New Zealand, informal) A parting salutation: bye, see you later. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chur

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I'm not the candidate of one faction anymore, but the president for all of us. … I know full well that many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to block the far-right. I want to thank them tonight, and know I owe them a debt in the years to come. … We have so much to do, and the war in Ukraine reminds us that we are going through tragic times, times where France must be heard, France must clearly make its choices, and France must anchor its strength in all fields, and we will do just that. … We also need to be careful and respectful because our country is full of division and doubt. Therefore we must be strong and no one will be left by the wayside. Together we must work towards that unity which is the only way through which we can live happier in France, and can overcome the challenges of the coming years. The coming years won't be easy for sure, but they will be historic, and together, we will write that story for the coming generations.   --Emmanuel Macron https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron