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Captain John Margrave Lerew, circa 1946

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...)

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  • In the news

  • 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.
  • On this day...

    January 21: Feast Day of Saint Agnes (Christianity)

    Concorde

  • 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.
  • 1968Cold 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 20January 21January 22

    Danny Lee Wynter

    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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