Sidney Mashbir

Sidney Forrester Mashbir (12 September 1891 – 13 June 1973)^[3] was a senior intelligence officer in the US Army primarily tasked in Military Intelligence. He served as the coordinator of the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section of Southwest Pacific Area during World War II. ^[4]
Sidney F. Mashbir, was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York on September 12, 1891, but later moved to Safford, Arizona in 1899.^[5] Sidney's Father was Professor Eliazar S. Mashbir, a Russia immigrant who was well-educated and became the first Russian-speaking attorney to practice Law in New York City. Sidney's Mother, Frida Freudenthal was also well-educated^[6], and in 1906 became the Postmistress of Safford, Arizona which included the area of Solomonville, Arizona.
Mashbir attended public schools in Safford, Arizona and later studied engineering at the University of Arizona for six months each year until 1911 whilst maintaining a career as a Engineering Draughtsman, primarily for the engineering department of Safford, and railroad companies.^[5] Sidney Mashbir married his first wife Miss Blanche Beckwith on September 12, 1913, however the two separated during the 1920s.^{[5] [7]}

Early service

Sidney F. Mashbir joined the Arizona National Guard at a young age, and served as a bugler of Company B in 1904.^[4] He later became the First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the University Battalion whilst studying at the University of Arizona.^[5]
In 1912, he served as a Lieutenant in Company K of the Arizona National Guard encampment, which based at Fort Huachuca. The senior instructor at the time was Captain Louis Joseph Van Schaick.^{[4] [5]}
In early 1916, Mashbir received his first official intelligence assignment, when he was assigned as the Assistant Intelligence Officer of the Ajo-Yuma district of Arizona as apart of the first Arizona Infantry under General Frederick Funston. His duties included mapping roads, trails and waterholes in northern Sonora. Additionally he would scout Mexican towns with Papago Indian scouts, reporting on the strength and equipment of Mexican garrisons and installing primitive wiretaps on Mexican communication lines. Mashbir was also responsible for investigating Japan's physical presence in Mexico at the time.^[4]
In late 1916, Mashbir applied for a commission in the Regular Army and was accepted with General Funston's support despite the Army’s policy that married men not be accepted. After attending the Army Service Schools at Fort Leavenworth, he joined the 22nd Infantry Regiment, which was stationed at Governors Island, New York, but was soon detailed for counter-espionage duty and was recommended to join a new Counter Intelligence service that was being formed.^[4]
On 10 September 1917 he was detailed as assistant to the Department Intelligence Officer at Governors Island. He enrolled in the Military Intelligence Division G-2 Reserves and become a Lieutenant Colonel (temporary rank). During this time he wrote the Provisional Rules for Counter Espionage, Eastern Department, which would become a model for future counterintelligence manuals and survive until World War II^[4] as well as a 52-page book titled Ten Lessons in Bayonet Fighting published by George Banta Publishing Company at the end of 1917.^[8]
Mashbir's is also credited with the investigations as a Coast Defense Intelligence Officer at Fort Hamilton which uncovered the first German spy to be apprehended in the United States, Paul Otto Kuhn.^[4]

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John Alexander Simpson

John Alexander Simpson (November 3, 1916–August 31, 2000) worked as an experimental nuclear, and cosmic ray physicist who was deeply committed to educating the public and political leaders about science and its implications.^[1] The year he died, his instruments in space had been sending data back for nearly 40 years.^[2] Simpson spent his career as an instructor and researcher for the University of Chicago Physics department. His research continued up until a few weeks prior to his death on August 31 of 2000. ^[1][2][3]
He is known for inventions such as the gas flow a-particle proportional counter for measuring plutonium yields in the presence of high intensity fission products, and the neutron monitor.^[1] And also for having several of the instruments he created lunched into space.^[4]
John A. Simpson died at age 83. His death was caused from a case of Pneumonia in which he contracted in the hospital following a successful heart surgery, and he is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and by his two children Mary Ann and Simpson from his first marriage.^[1][3]

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Margaret Hamilton (scientist)

Margaret Hamilton (born 1938) is currently the founder and CEO of software development company Hamilton Technologies, Inc., however she is best recognized for her role as an Award-winning American NASA scientist and mathematician who as the Director of the Software Engineering Division at Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (CSDL), worked to develop the Apollo program.^[1]. The Apollo program was a space flight program launched by NASA in America under the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower which landed the first humans on the moon with the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. Margaret is responsible for pioneering the Apollo and Skylab on board flight software and its multiple versions for multiple missions.^[1]. Before her developmental contributions, the on board flight software needed to land on the moon did not exist. Margaret was the individual to coin the term “software engineering”.^[2]

Dr. Paul Curto, senior technologist for NASA's inventions and contributions board noted her as having developed pioneering concepts of asynchronous software, priority scheduling, end-to-end testing, and man-in-the-loop decision capability, such as priority displays which then became the foundation for ultra reliable software design.^[3]. The surrounding contextual setting for her developments was one in which computer science and software engineering were not yet disciplines; instead learning was done on the job with hands on experience. Margaret rose through the ranks by gaining experience and contributing towards uncharted territory in space science.^[1]

Her first award came in 1986 when she was awarded the Augusta Ada Lovelace Award by the Association of Women in Computing.^[4]. In 2003, she was granted a NASA Exceptional Space Act Award for her scientific and technical contributions and included with the award, Hamilton received a check for $37,200, the largest award to an individual in NASA's history. NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has commented saying “The concepts she and her team created became the building blocks for modern software engineering. It's an honor to recognize Ms. Hamilton for her extraordinary contributions to NASA.”^[3][5].

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Scott Forbush

Scott Ellsworth Forbush (April 10, 1904 – April 4, 1984) was an American astronomer, physicist and geophysicist who is recognized as having laid the observational foundations for many of the central features of solar-interplanetary-terrestrial physics, which at the time was an under-developed field of study. The Forbush Effect, which in geophysics is an occasional decrease in the intensity of cosmic rays as observed on Earth, and is attributed to magnetic effects produced by solar flares, was named after him for his discovery.^[1] Scott conducted most of his research during his career at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) of the Carnegie Institution of Washington where he was appointed chairman of a section on theoretical geophysics in 1957.^[1]. This research specialized in the statistically sophisticated analysis of phenomena such as magnetic storms, solar activity, rotation of the Earth, and the rotation of the sun, and the correlation of this geophysical and solar phenomena with temporal variations of cosmic-ray intensity.^[2]

Scott was widowed once and married twice, the first time to Clara Lundell, concert pianist who passed in 1967, and for the second time in June of 1970, 14 years before his death, to Julie Daves, a science writer and watercolor artist. Scott passed in 1984 in Charlottesville, Virginia having suffered from pneumonia. He was survived by his wife Julie and his sister Louise Boyd of Hudson, Ohio.^[2]

Early years

Born in 1904 near Hudson, Ohio on a farm, Scott spent his childhood walking back and forth to a small school 2 miles away, and working on his parent's farm. His mother was a teacher and encouraged his curiosity and interest in learning by enrolling him in the nearby Western Reserve Academy. Scott graduated in 1920 and a year later enrolled in the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland. In 1925 he graduated with a physics major and went on to try graduate study in physics at Ohio State University briefly, before he decided that observational geophysics was much more appealing than pure physics and began seeking employment in that field. At a later point he resumed his formal graduate work with a fresh appreciation of its direct applicability to his area of interest.In 1925 Scott gained his first employment by the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C.^[2]

Starting in September of 1927, after having held his position with the National Bureau of Standards for roughly one year, he became employed by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, which became a pivotal point for him in his professional career. As an observer at DTM's magnetic observatory, he worked in Huancayo, Peru, in the Andes 100 miles east of Lima, before joining the staff of the famous nonmagnetic sailing ship, Carnegie, two years later. Carnegie was a vessel built for DTM's worldwide survey of the geomagnetic field. After his ship suffered an explosion in November of 1929, he returned to DTM and was reassigned to Huancayo, where he was able to publish a paper entitled Huancayo Magnetic Observatory June to September, 1930 in the Journal of Geophysical Research.^[3]. In 1931 he was granted permission to finish his graduate studies in physics and mathematics at Johns Hopkins University. He became married in 1932 to Clara Lundell, concert pianist, and was widowed in 1967 upon her death. ^[2]

 

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Miss Foozie

Lucy Foozie (born April 6, 1960(1960-04-06)), better known as simply Miss Foozie, is a character from Chicago.^[4][5] Today, Miss Foozie is not a “drag queen”. She is a “personality.”^[2][3] Time Out Chicago calls her a “drag hostess and entertainer”,^[6][7] and Chicago Free Press has consistently awarded her The Pressie for “best female impersonator”.^[8]

In 1997, Miss Foozie was “born” at her portrayer’s birthday party. Since then, her career has included parades, four films, and live performances throughout the United States.^{[3][4][5][9][10][11][12][13][14]} Her influence extends internationally as publications featuring her are available in both the United States and Canada.

Origins

When Miss Foozie was a little boy, he liked other people and had lots of friends in school. From a very young age, he was a character and made people laugh. Years later, he moved to the more populous Chicago, certain that the city had a lot to offer him and that he had a great deal more to offer the world. He began a career in customer service, traveling downtown every day working 9 to 5. He claims he was a “great worker”,^[3] but too often the job was not as satisfying as he had hoped it would be. He wanted to reach out to more people, not to just talk on the telephone.^[3]

As his birthday came up, there was a new bar opening on North Halsted Street called Circuit. Very few people knew about it. “Can I have my birthday party here?” he asked. He had no shortage of friends, so they all pulled together. He passed out invitations to everyone he knew, and even some people that he did not know. He taped a thousand fliers that had happy faces all over Boystown announcing the party: “Bring your friends. If you like ‘em...I like ‘em.”^[3][4]

On Friday, April 6, 1997, he got to the celebration early, and pretty soon some friends pulled him into a back area and said “Perform something!” and presented shoes, jewelry, a dress and a wig. He told them,“Well, I don’t do that sort of thing. I don’t dress like a woman...” While they were trying to talk him into it, another friend ran in and yelled “Do something and I mean fast! There are over four hundred people out there! You’d better hurry up Foozie!” Dumbfounded, he thought about the four hundred people and replied, “That’s Miss Foozie to you!”^[3][4]

The birthday party was a huge success, and all of Miss Foozie's friends had a great time. Miss Foozie was never the same again, having found something that made her happy, and she had found something truly special that made people laugh.^[3]

^Career

In April 2007, Miss Foozie told Chicago magazine her first paid gig was the weekly stage show “Miss Foozie and Her Floozies” at age 37 for US$30 per show, however, Chicago published he was 48 at this time, possibly mistakenly, since Miss Foozie’s first gig was indeed at age 37, and before his 37^th birthday on April 6, 1997, Miss Foozie did not exist. That would have made Miss Foozie 46 or 47 in April 2007 and 50 as of today, October 21, 2010. Miss Foozie also told Chicago her alter ego works full-time at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and her fantasy job is to be Miss Foozie full-time, although she takes working vacations roughly every other month to cities including Washington, D.C. and New York.^[5]

In April 2007, Boystown pizzeria Pie Hole named a pie after her: “Miss Foozie’s Signature Pie". “She’s a ham, and she calls everyone pineapple... so it was only a matter of time. Full ¼ lb of ham and big chunks of pineapple, plus we pull out a $1 donation for Foozie Charity in honor of all the work she does in the community.”^[16] In addition to Foozie Charity, she was Miss December in the “Glamour Of Boystown Chicago” Charity Calendar.^[16][17]

Miss Foozie had the opportunity to be hostess of the 2009 13^th Annual Triangle Neighbors' Northalsted Halloween Parade, and she did indeed emcee the parade as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts, following that year's theme of the parade, “Mad Hatter’s Ball”. This was her third year as emcee for this huge event in Boystown.^{[10][11][12][13]}

^Films

In 2004, Miss Foozie appeared in Twenty Gay Stereotypes Confirmed, a tongue-in-cheek look at Gay stereotypes using the director's childhood home movies. She appears on the streets of Chicago introducing the third stereotype with her iconic catchphrase, “Hello, Pineapples!”^[18] In 2005, Miss Foozie made a special appearance in Bowser Makes a Movie, a comedy with a young man struggling to make a Gay adult film.^[16][19][20] In 2007, Miss Foozie appeared as herself in Father Knows..., a Gay interest film involving a father-son relationship, Gay romance, and explicit sex.^[21] In 2009, Miss Foozie played herself again in Sister Mary, a dark comedy written and directed by Scott Grenke, starring Brent Corrigan, Bruce Vilanch, and producer James Vallo who plays Mark Rima, a homophobic Detective who must “partner” up with the very Gay and flamboyant Detective Chris Riant (Shawn Quinlan) to stop a serial killing Nun (Judy Tenuta) from offing 5 band members otherwise known as “The Ex Choir Boys”, but when it is determined that the Detectives cannot solve the case on their own, expert F.B.I. profiler Agent Peccant (Ant) is assigned to the case. As the details of the case slowly emerge the police determine that that the “nun” may only be a silent witness to the grisly murders. The task force then turns its attention on the Catholic Church and a suspect group of Priests that have had a propensity for “cleansing the souls” of innocent young choir boys.^[22][23]

 

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John Wesley Hardrick

ohn Wesley Hardrick (September 21, 1891^[1] – October 18, 1968^[2]) was an American artist. He painted landscapes, still lifes and portraits.

  

Early life and family origins

Hardrick's grandfather, Shephard Hardrick, was a land-owning farmer in Kentucky who fled to Indianapolis with his family in 1871 due to activities of The Night Riders, a forerunner of the Ku Klux Klan.^[3] Hardrick's parents were Shephard Hardrick, Jr., and Georgia Etta West, who were married on October 10, 1888^[3] and lived on South Prospect Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. He displayed at talent as a young man, learning to paint with watercolors at the age of eight without instruction. As a young teen, he studied with Otto Stark at Manual High School^[4] which is now used as offices by Eli Lilly and Company. He entered drawings at the Indiana State Fair while in high school, winning several awards. At the age of nineteen, he entered fifty-three paintings and drawings, receiving eight awards which included several first prizes. This gave Hardrick sufficient notoriety that he began to receive a formal art education after enrolling in October, 1910^[3] in the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, studying there with William Forsyth until 1918.^[1][2][4][5] In order to finance his education, Hardrick worked at the Indianapolis Stove Foundry ^[4][6] and sold newspapers.^[3]

He married Georgia Anna Howard in 1914. They had children, Rowena, Raphael, Georgia, and Rachel.

Career

By 1917, Hardrick's local reputation reputation was such that he and William Edouard Scott were featured in the Tenth Annual Exhibition of Works by Indiana Artists at the Herron School of Art, both men receiving critical praise.^[3] By 1924, he and Hale Woodruff shared a studio at 542 1/2 Indiana Avenue.^[7] Unfortunately, his financial situation was such that by 1925 he was working in the family trucking business and had started a carpet cleaning business to help support his family, but still found time to paint. Commenting on a 1927 exhibition at the Pettis Gallery in Indianapolis, one review commented that his work had seemed to grow and mature in those two years.^[3] That same year he and Woodruff were among those featured at the Art Institute of Chicago's exhibition of African-American artists. In addition, that year he received a $100 honorarium and second-place bronze medal from the Harmon Foundation. It was presented to him by mayor Ert Slack during a ceremony which honored the achievements of local African-Americans as part of the city's sixth annual Inter-Racial Sunday.^[3] This led to a fund drive to purchase one of his best known paintings, Little Brown Girl.

The Depression came along just when it seemed Hardrick was poised to reap the rewards for his work and dedication. Hardrick continued to paint and exhibit. On December 18, 1933, Hardrick applied for a Civil Works Administration Public Works of Art Project program and was selected for the project planning committee.^[3]

In 1934, he was awarded a commission from the WPA to paint a mural for Crispus Attucks High School. The mural, titled Workers, portrayed 3 African-American foundry workers pouring molten metal. It was presented to the high school principal Russell Lane, who refused to install the mural due to its depiction of the labors and his concern that it would dampen student aspirations.^[8]

By 1940 Hardrick's health prevented him from working in the family business and he began driving a taxi. He would often sell paintings out of the trunk and, while driving around, see a subject he would want to paint. If a man or woman agreed, he would drive them to his studio and complete the portrait in a few hours.^[3]

In 1941, his wife Georgia died and Hardrick moved to his parents' house on Prospect Street with his three children, Raphael, Georgia, and Rachel. He used the attic for a studio, but by 1943 his daughters had married and he left. In 1946, his friends Rufus and Emily Wharton offered him their basement as a studio and residence, which he accepted.^[3] He continued to paint until unable to due to contracting Parkinson's disease. When he died on October 18, 1968, he was still a nationally recognized artist in spite of living his whole life in Indianapolis.^[3]

 

 

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Richard Baker (UK businessman)

Richard Baker (Born 6 August 1962) is the former Chief Operating Officer of Asda Stores Ltd. and CEO of Boots Group. He is currently Chairman of the European Division of Groupe Aeroplan, which owns and runs the Nectar Loyalty Programme in the UK. He also serves as Non Executive Chairman of Virgin Active, Non Executive Director of Whitbread plc, Operating Partner at Advent International and Chairman of DFS.






Biography


After graduating from Downing College, Cambridge, Baker worked at Mars Confectionery for nearly 10 years, working his way up to Sales and Marketing Director.^[1][2] He joined Asda Stores Ltd in 1995,^[3] where he worked for the following 9 years becoming Marketing Director in 1999,^[4] and ultimately Chief Operating Officer in 2002, following their acquisition by Walmart.^[5]
In September 2003, Baker joined Boots Group as Chief Executive Officer.^[6] The company had been reporting losses following its ill-advised move into its 'Wellbeing' services, which included Dentistry, Massage and Botox.^[7][8] Despite implementing a number of cost-cutting measures and extending opening hours, the company continued to struggle until October 2005 it announced it was to merge with competitor Alliance Unichem.^[9] The announcement met with widespread opposition, but the merger was cleared by the OFT in February 2006 and completed in July that year.^[10][11] Baker became Chief Executive Officer of the new Alliance Boots GmbH.^[12]
In April 2007, after publishing annual results that showed a profit increase of 7.4%, Alliance Boots was sold to private equity firm KKR for £11.1 billion; the highest price ever paid by a private equity company for a British public company.^[13][14] Baker left the company on completion of the transaction.^[15] Baker has served as chairman of DFS since April 2010, following Advent International's £500 million takeover of the furniture retail chain.^[16]

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Retirement and legacy

McNamara was summarily retired from the RAAF in 1946, along with a number of other senior commanders and veterans of World War I, officially to make way for the advancement of younger and equally capable officers. In addition, McNamara's role overseas had become redundant.^[38][39] He was discharged from the Air Force on 11 July.^[8] In May 1946, the British government offered McNamara the position of Senior Education Control Officer in Westphalia, Germany, under the auspices of the Allied Control Commission. He later became Deputy Director of Education for the British Zone of Occupation.^[21] McNamara continued to live in England after completing his work with the Commission in October 1947, and served on the National Coal Board in London from 1947 to 1959.^[3][5] He died of hypertensive heart failure on 2 November 1961, aged 67, after suffering a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire. Survived by his wife and two children, he was buried at St Joseph's Priory, Austin Wood, Gerrards Cross, following a large funeral.^[6][40]
Embittered by his dismissal from the RAAF and the meagre severance he received from the Australian Government, McNamara had insisted that his Victoria Cross not be returned to Australia after his death; his family donated it to the RAF Museum, London.^[21] Fellow No. 1 Squadron pilot, Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal) Adrian Cole, described McNamara as "quiet, scholarly, loyal and beloved by all ... the last Officer for whom that high honour would have been predicted".^[6][41] He was one of the few Victoria Cross recipients to subsequently attain senior rank in the armed services, however RAAF historian Dr Alan Stephens considered that his appointments were "in the main routine" and that his one great deed led to "a degree of fame that he perhaps found burdensome".^[14][42] Biographer Chris Coulthard-Clark summed up McNamara's "dilemma" as that of "an essentially ordinary man" thrust into the limelight by one "truly amazing episode".^[42] His name is borne by Frank McNamara Park in Shepparton, Victoria,^[43] and the Frank McNamara VC Club at Oakey Army Aviation Centre, Queensland.^[44][45]

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World War II

When World War II broke out in September 1939, McNamara was serving as RAAF Liaison Officer at Australia House in London, a position he had held since January 1938.^[1][27] Shortly before being promoted Air Commodore in December, he advocated establishing a reception base to act as a headquarters for the RAAF in England and "generally to watch the interests of Australian personnel" who were stationed there.^[1][28] However, by November 1940 he had reversed his position, in favour of an Air Ministry proposal to process personnel of all nationalities in one RAF base camp.^[27][29] In the event, RAAF Overseas Headquarters was formed on 1 December 1941, with Air Marshal Richard Williams appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC), and McNamara Deputy AOC.^[30][31] McNamara became acting Air Vice Marshal and acting AOC of RAAF Overseas Headquarters when Williams returned to Australia in January 1942 for what was expected to be a temporary visit; Williams was subsequently posted to Washington, D.C. and McNamara retained command of the headquarters until the end of the year.^[32][33]
McNamara was appointed AOC British Forces Aden in late 1942,^[3][27] and arrived to take up the posting on 9 January 1943.^[34] Described in the official history of Australia in the war as a "backwater",^[35] British Forces Aden's main functions were conducting anti-submarine patrols and escorting convoys. McNamara flew on these missions whenever he could, generally as an observer, but enemy contact was rare.^[21][34] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1945 New Year Honours,^[36] and returned to London in March. That month McNamara was deeply affected by the loss of his close friend Peter Drummond, who had helped keep attacking cavalry at bay during his Victoria Cross action in 1917. Drummond's B-24 Liberator disappeared near the Azores en route to Canada and all aboard were presumed killed; McNamara had to break the news to his widow, Isabel.^[37] McNamara's health had also suffered from exposure to the desert dust in Aden, and he was unable to take up his next position as the RAAF's representative at the Ministry of Defence until September.^[21] His entire war was spent outside Australia.^[3]

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Between the wars

Following the disbandment of the AFC, McNamara transferred to the Australian Air Corps in April 1920. He was invested with his Victoria Cross by the Prince of Wales at Government House, Melbourne, on 26 May.^[21] McNamara enlisted in the newly established Royal Australian Air Force in 1921.^[3] Ranked Flying Officer (honorary Flight Lieutenant), he was one of the original twenty-one officers on the Air Force's strength at its formation that March.^[23] Initially posted to RAAF Headquarters in Melbourne as Staff Officer Operations and Intelligence, McNamara was given command of No. 1 Flying Training School (1FTS) at Point Cook in July 1922. He was promoted Squadron Leader in March 1924 and the following month married Hélène Bluntschli, a Belgian national he had met in Cairo during the war, at St Patrick's Cathedral;^[2][6] his best man was fellow officer Frank Lukis.^[24]

McNamara travelled to England in 1925 for two years exchange with the Royal Air Force, serving at No. 5 Flying Training School, RAF Sealand, and the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry, London.^[1][25] Returning to Australia in November 1927, he was appointed Second-in-Command 1FTS.^[6] In 1928, McNamara resumed his studies at the University of Melbourne, having earlier failed to pass the necessary exams to enter the RAF Staff College, Andover. A part-time student, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (second-class honours) in 1933.^[6][7] McNamara was made Commanding Officer of 1FTS in October 1930,^[6] and promoted to Wing Commander one year later.^[8] He was put in charge of RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, including No. 1 Aircraft Depot, in February 1933.^[6] McNamara was raised to Group Captain in 1936, and attended the Imperial Defence College, London, the following year.^[5][8] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1938 New Year Honours

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Lt. Frank Hubert McNamara, Aus. Forces, R.F.C.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during an aerial bomb attack upon a hostile construction train, when one of our pilots was forced to land behind the enemy's lines.
Lt. McNamara, observing this pilot's predicament and the fact that hostile cavalry were approaching, descended to his rescue. He did this under heavy rifle fire and in spite of the fact that he himself had been severely wounded in the thigh.

He landed about 200 yards from the damaged machine, the pilot of which climbed on to Lt. McNamara's machine, and an attempt was made to rise. Owing, however, to his disabled leg, Lt. McNamara was unable to keep his machine straight, and it turned over. The two officers, having extricated themselves, immediately set fire to the machine and made their way across to the damaged machine, which they succeeded in starting.

Finally Lt. McNamara, although weak from loss of blood, flew this machine back to the aerodrome, a distance of seventy miles, and thus completed his comrade's rescue.

Promoted to Captain on 10 April 1917, McNamara became a flight commander in No. 4 Squadron AFC (also known until 1918 as No. 71 Squadron RFC), but was unable to continue flying due to the leg wound he suffered on 20 March.^[4][8] He was invalided back to Australia in August aboard HT Boorara, and given a hero's welcome on arrival in Melbourne.^[4][21] Found to be medically unfit for active service, McNamara was discharged from the Australian Flying Corps on 31 January 1918.^[4][8] However, panic caused by the intrusion into Australian waters of the German raider Wolf resulted in him being recalled to the AFC and put in charge of an aerial reconnaissance unit based in South Gippsland, Victoria, flying an F.E.2B and later a Maurice Farman Shorthorn.^[21][22] In September 1918, he was posted as a flying instructor to Point Cook, where he saw out the remainder of the war.^[4][21]

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Victoria Cross

On 20 March 1917, McNamara, flying a Martinsyde, was one of four No. 1 Squadron pilots taking part in a raid against a Turkish railway junction near Gaza. Owing to a shortage of bombs, the aircraft were each armed with six specially modified 4.5-inch howitzer shells.^[13] McNamara had successfully dropped three of his shells when the fourth exploded prematurely, badly wounded him in the leg with shrapnel, an effect he likened to being "hit with a sledgehammer".^[2][13] Having turned to head back to base, he spotted a fellow squadron member from the same mission, Captain David Rutherford, on the ground beside his crashlanded B.E.2.^[6][14] Allied airmen had been hacked to death by enemy troops in similar situations, and McNamara saw that a company of Turkish cavalry was fast approaching Rutherford's position.^[14] Despite the rough terrain and the gash in his leg, McNamara landed near Rutherford in an attempt to rescue him.^[9][13] As there was no spare cockpit in the single-seat Martinsyde, the downed pilot jumped on to McNamara's wing and held the struts. McNamara crashed while attempting to take off, however, due to the effects of his leg wound and Rutherford's weight overbalancing the aircraft. The two men, who had escaped further injury in the accident, set fire to the Martinsyde and dashed back to Rutherford's two-seat B.E.2. Rutherford repaired the engine while McNamara used his revolver against the attacking cavalry, who had opened fire on them.^[6][14] Two other No. 1 Squadron pilots overhead, Lieutenant (later Air Marshal Sir) Roy "Peter" Drummond and Lieutenant Alfred Ellis, also began strafing the enemy troops.^[2][13] McNamara managed to start the B.E.2's engine and take off, with Rutherford in the observer's cockpit.^[14] In severe pain and close to blacking out from loss of blood, McNamara flew the damaged aircraft 70 miles (110 km) back to base at El Arish.^[14][15]

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Today's featured article

Frank McNamara (VC)

Air Vice Marshal Francis Hubert (Frank) McNamara VC, CB, CBE (4 April 1894 – 2 November 1961) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British and Commonwealth forces. Serving with the Australian Flying Corps, he was honoured for his actions on 20 March 1917, when he rescued a fellow pilot who had been forced down behind enemy lines. McNamara was the first Australian aviator—and the only one in World War I—to receive the Victoria Cross. He later became a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Born and educated in Victoria, McNamara was a teacher when he joined the militia prior to World War I. In 1915, he was selected for pilot training at Central Flying School, Point Cook, and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps the following year. He was based in the Middle East with No. 1 Squadron when he earned the Victoria Cross. In 1921, McNamara enlisted as a Flying Officer in the newly formed RAAF, rising to the rank of Air Vice Marshal by 1942. He held senior posts in England and Aden during World War II. Retiring from the Air Force in 1946, McNamara continued to live in Britain until his death from heart failure in 1961

 

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