Werner Mölders (1913–1941) was a German Luftwaffe pilot. He was the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War; in World War II, he became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories. The highly decorated Mölders was instrumental in the development of new fighter tactics which led to the finger-four formation. In 1938, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion, which supported General Francisco Franco's Nationalist Falange in the Spanish Civil War, and shot down 15 aircraft. In World War II, he claimed 101 aerial victories for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Banned from flying further combat missions Mölders was promoted to Oberst, and appointed Inspector General of Fighters. He was killed in an aircraft crash, in which he was traveling as a passenger. The German Wehrmacht of the Third Reich and the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany both honoured him by naming two fighter wings, a destroyer and barracks after him. In the 1970s–1990s, he became part of a broader discussion in Germany over remembering the Holocaust and honouring decorated soldiers of the Third Reich.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1831:

After a bloody battle with the military causing 600 casualties, rebellious silkworkers seized Lyon, France, beginning the First Canut Revolt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canut_revolts

1869:

The Cutty Sark, one of the last sailing clippers ever to be built, was launched at Dumbarton in Scotland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Sark

1887:

The first college lacrosse game was played between New York University and Manhattan College. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/college_lacrosse

1963:

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States aboard Air Force One hours after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination

1995:

Toy Story, the first feature film created using only computer-generated imagery, was released. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story

2004:

Massive protests started in cities across Ukraine, resulting from allegations that the Ukrainian presidential election between sitting Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and leader of the opposition coalition Viktor Yushchenko was rigged. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Revolution

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

leaven (v): 1. To add an agent, such as yeast, used to make dough rise. 2. To cause to rise by fermentation http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leaven

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Human feeling is like the mighty rivers that bless the earth: it does not wait for beauty — it flows with resistless force and brings beauty with it. --George Eliot http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Eliot