The Rogožarski IK-3 was a 1930s Yugoslav monoplane single-seat fighter, designed as a successor to the Ikarus IK-2 fighter. Coming into service in 1940, it was considered comparable to foreign aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109E. Although the prototype crashed during testing, a total of twelve production aircraft had been delivered by July 1940. Six IK-3s were serviceable when the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia began on 6 April 1941. All six were in service with the 51st Independent Fighter Group at Zemun near Belgrade. Pilots flying the IK-3 claimed 11 aircraft shot down during the 11-day conflict. According to one account, to prevent them from falling into German hands, the surviving aircraft and incomplete airframes were destroyed by their crews and factory staff. Another account suggests that one aircraft survived the invasion and was later destroyed by sabotage. The IK-3 design was the basis for the post- war Yugoslav-built Ikarus S-49 fighter.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogo%C5%BEarski_IK-3

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1812:

Peninsular War: After a three-week siege, the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the Earl of Wellington, captured Badajoz, Spain, and forced the surrender of the French garrison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Badajoz_%281812%29

1941:

World War II: The Axis Powers began both Operation Marita and Operation 25, invading Greece and Yugoslavia, respectively. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Yugoslavia

1970:

Four California Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout after a traffic stop in the Newhall area, north of Los Angeles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhall_incident

2009:

A 6.3 Mw earthquake struck the region of Abruzzo in central Italy (damage pictured), killing 308 people and injuring more than 1,500 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_L%27Aquila_earthquake

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

wieldy: 1. (obsolete except Britain, dialectal) Able to wield one's body well; active, dexterous. 2. Capable of being easily wielded or managed; handy. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wieldy

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The government and the people are under a moral necessity of acting together; a free press compels them to bend to one another.   --James Mill https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Mill