Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 January 21

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Today's featured article
John Lerew (1912–1996) was an officer and pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II, and later a senior manager in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). As commander of No. 24 Squadron, he became famous in Air Force history for his irreverent response to orders by RAAF Headquarters during the 1942 Battle of Rabaul. After being directed to assist in repelling the invading Japanese fleet with his one serviceable bomber, and to keep his bombed airfield open, Lerew signalled headquarters with the ancient Latin phrase used by gladiators honouring their Emperor: "Morituri vos salutamus" ("We who are about to die salute you"). He also defied an order to abandon his staff in Rabaul. In February 1942, Lerew led a raid on enemy shipping in New Guinea; he was shot down but evaded capture, returning to safety nine days after being reported missing. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he later commanded the RAAF's first flying safety directorate. After leaving the Air Force in 1946 as a Group Captain, he joined the newly formed ICAO in Canada. He was responsible for administrative and technical reforms, and rose to Chief of Flight Branch. Retiring in 1972, he travelled extensively before settling in Vancouver. (more...) Recently featured: Little Miss Sunshine – Sacrifice – Unification of Germany Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the apparent timber framing of St John's Church, High Legh, Cheshire (pictured) is "a sham"? ... that the Diamondback air-to-air missile was originally known as the "Super Sidewinder"? ... that the bearded tylophora is now classified in the dogbane family? ... that a system created by Husk Power Systems uses rice hulls, a waste product of rice milling, to generate power for under US$2 per month for thousands in India with no access to the electrical grid? ... that Britney Spears' 2011 comeback single, "Hold It Against Me", broke the U.S. airplay record for the most number of radio plays in one day? ... that Ischaemia by New Zealand poet C. K. Stead won the £5,000 International Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine in 2010? ... that a recording of a benefit concert for The Prince's Trust won producer Anthony Eaton a Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video? ... that the 1915 Parnell Tunnel in New Zealand replaced a steeper single-track tunnel known to inundate open carriages with smoke and sparks, causing burns and clothing stains? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Sargent Shriver 1962 A series of bomb attacks across Iraq kills more than 100 people. More than 50 people are killed in widespread flooding across southern Africa. American politician Sargent Shriver (pictured), the first director of the Peace Corps, dies at the age of 95. Venezuela claims to have overtaken Saudi Arabia as the world leader in proven oil reserves. The 2011 Dakar Rally concludes in Buenos Aires. At least 100 people are killed and another 90 injured in a stampede at Sabarimala in Kerala, India. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali leaves Tunisia following nationwide protests and Fouad Mebazaa becomes the acting president. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 21: Feast Day of Saint Agnes (Christianity) 1893 – The Bechuanaland Protectorate (modern Botswana, then a protectorate of the United Kingdom) formally annexed the Tati Concessions Land, a portion of Matabeleland that had been conceded to the British South Africa Company. 1948 – The Flag of Quebec, featuring a white cross and four fleurs-de-lis on a blue field, was adopted and flown for the first time over the Quebec Parliament Building in Quebec City. 1968 – Cold War: A B-52 bomber carrying four nuclear weapons crashed onto sea ice near Thule Air Base, Greenland, causing widespread radioactive contamination. 1976 – The Concorde supersonic transports (pictured) began scheduled commercial flights to London, Paris, Bahrain, and Rio de Janeiro. 1997 – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. More anniversaries: January 20 – January 21 – January 22 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 21 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Danny Lee Wynter is an English actor of Italian and Jamaican descent. He has starred in several theatre productions, including King Lear, Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2, all at Shakespeare's Globe. He has also had guest appearances in various television programmes such as Luther, Trial & Retribution, and Holby City. Lee Wynter lives and works in London.

Photo: Johan Persson

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