War II. He flew more than 1,000 combat missions, and fought in all
major German theatres of the war, including the Western, Eastern and
Mediterranean fronts. He was shot down on 18 occasions and was credited
with 220 aerial victories, around 16 of which were in the
Messerschmitt Me 262, an early jet fighter. Bär joined the Reichswehr
in 1934 and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. Serving first as a
mechanic, then as a pilot on transport aircraft, he was informally
trained as a fighter pilot. He claimed his first aerial victory in
September 1939 on the French border. By the end of the Battle of
Britain, his tally of victories was 17. Transferred to the Eastern front
to participate in Operation Barbarossa, he quickly accumulated further
kills, earning the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and
Swords for 90 aerial victories in February 1942. Hermann Göring's
personal dislike of Bär, coupled with Bär's insubordinate character
and lack of military discipline, deprived him of higher awards. After
the war, Bär continued as an aviator, and was killed in a flying
accident near Braunschweig.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_B%C3%A4r>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
451:
Armenian rebels were defeated by forces of the Sassanid Empire
on the Avarayr Plain in Vaspurakan, but the loss played a major factor
in their being granted religious freedom 33 years later.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Avarayr>
1644:
Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both
claimed victory in the Battle of Montijo.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Montijo>
1906:
Vauxhall Bridge in London opened, crossing the River Thames
between Vauxhall and Westminster.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Bridge>
1938:
The House Un-American Activities Committee was established to
investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by people or
organizations suspected of having communist or fascist ties.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Un-American_Activities_Committee>
1991:
Lauda Air Flight 004 experienced an uncommanded thrust reverser
deployment of an engine and broke apart in mid-air, killing all 223
people on board.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauda_Air_Flight_004>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
eyrie:
1. A bird of prey's nest.
2. Any high and remote but commanding place.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eyrie>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
I was frustrated that computer hardware was being improved faster
than computer software. I wanted to invent some software that was
completely different, that would grow and change as it was used.
That's how wiki came about.
--Ward Cunningham
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ward_Cunningham>
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