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...

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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...

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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...

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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)...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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]...

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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...

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