The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is the third-level military medal given to members of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services. It was also given to members of other Commonwealth countries. The medal was awarded for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
The award was established on 3 June 1918, shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was originally awarded to RAF officers. During the Second World War, it was also awarded to Royal Artillery officers serving with the RAF as pilots and artillery observers. In 1993 the medal replaced the Distinguished Flying Medal, which had until then been awarded to other ranks. People awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross are allowed to use the post-nominal letters "DFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award.
During the First World War, about 1,100 DFCs were awarded, with 70 first bars and 3 second bars. During the Second World War, 20,354 DFCs were awarded, the most of any award, with about 1,550 first bars and 45 second bars.
Honorary awards were made on 964 occasions to people from other non-Commonwealth countries.
The decoration is a cross flory and is 2⅛ inches wide. The horizontal and bottom bars have bumps at the end, while the upper bar has a rose. The front of the medal has aeroplane propellers, placed on the vertical arms of the cross, and wings on the horizontal arms. In the centre is a laurel wreath around the RAF monogram, with a heraldic Imperial Crown on the top.
The back of the medal has the Royal Cypher in the centre and the year of issue engraved on the lower arm. The decoration is issued named.
The ribbon was originally white with purple broad horizontal stripes. This was changed in 1919 to the current white with purple broad diagonal stripes.
The decoration was designed by Edward Carter Preston.
Paterson Clarence Hughes
Paterson Clarence "Pat" Hughes, DFC (19 September 1917 – 7 September 1940) was an Australian fighter ace of World War II. He served with the Royal Air Force (RAF). During the Battle of Britain he shot down 17 enemy aircraft. This was the highest number of aircraft shot down by an Australian during the battle, and the third highest by an Australian during World War II. Hughes was killed in action on 7 September 1940.
Hughes was born in Numeralla, New South Wales. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1936. After graduating as a pilot, he joined the RAF. In July 1937, he joined No. 64 Squadron, which operated Hawker Demon and, later, Bristol Blenheim fighters. Posted to No. 234 Squadron at the start of World War II, Hughes began flying Supermarine Spitfires. He shared in the squadron's first victory on 8 July 1940, when with two other Spitfires, he shot down a German Junkers Ju 88 attacking ships near Lands End. Hughes was known for attacking his targets at extremely close range. He probably died after his Spitfire was struck by parts from a German Dornier Do 17 bomber that he had just shot down near London. Hughes was able to get out of the plane, but his parachute did not open. After his death he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hughes was buried in England.
Bamboo Airways
Bamboo Airways is a Vietnamese airline. The headquarters are in Hanoi. The center of activity is from Phu Cat Airport in Qui Nhon. The company was founded in 2017. VietJet Air will begin operation in October 2018. It will have flights to most of airports in Vietnam and some international airports. On 26th March 2016, it signed a purchase order with Airbus to buy 24 Airbus A320neo, signed a purchase order with Boeing to buy 20 Boeing 787. The aircraft will be delivered from 2020.
It will mainly serve tourists to resort towns in Vietnam, where its parent company FLC Group has resorts (Ha Long, Thanh Hoa, Dong Hoi, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc).
Big Four British railway companies
The Big Four was a name used to describe the four largest railway companies in the United Kingdom in the period 1923–47. The name was coined by "The Railway Magazine" in its issue of February 1923: "The Big Four of the New Railway Era".
The Big Four were:
The companies were formed as a result of the Railways Act 1921, in a process known as "The Grouping" (of the railways), which came into effect on 1 January 1923.
On 1 January 1948, the companies were nationalised to form British Railways as a result of the Transport Act 1947.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) was one of the Big Four British railway companies from 1923 to 1948. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railways into four. The companies merged into the LMS included the London and North Western Railway, the Midland Railway, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (which had previously merged with the London and North Western Railway on 1 January 1922), several Scottish railway companies (including the Caledonian Railway), and numerous other, smaller ventures.
Electro-diesel locomotive
An Electro-diesel locomotive is an electric locomotive which also has a diesel engine. The diesel engine is used when an electricity supply from overhead lines or a third rail is not available.
Caledonian Sleeper
Caledonian Sleeper is the collective name for overnight sleeper train services between London and Scotland, in Great Britain.
Christina Kirkman
Christina Marie Kirkman (born February 25, 1993, in Melrose, Massachusetts, USA) is an American actress and comedian. She was best known for her roles in the final two seasons of "All That".
In 2003, she entered "R U All That?: Nickelodeon's Search for the Funniest Kid in America" competition and won the highly-coveted spot as a regular performer on "All That".
As part of her audition, Kirkman was asked to do a skit in which she met Jay Leno. She had never heard of Leno because she had never stayed up late, so she said, ""Who the heck is Jay Leno?"" and instead pretended to talk to Leno's bodyguard.
When asked if she thought she was going get into the "All That" cast, Kirkman responded, "I thought I had no chance!" with a laugh.
Kirkman joined the cast of "All That" in Season 9 after Bryan Hearne left the show. She replaced Jamie Lynn Spears as the youngest cast member of "All That". She remained on "All That" until the show was canceled.
After "All That" came to an end, Kirkman returned to Massachusetts where she experienced bullying. This caused her to temporarily stop acting to focus on school. She graduated from Bishop Finwick High School. In 2015, she graduated from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts where she studied broadcast journalism and also participated in several different on campus productions.
After completing college, Kirkman moved back to Los Angeles to pursue acting and as of 2016, she completed filming the movie "Night Shadow".
1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak
The 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak, also known as the Central Florida tornado outbreak or The Night of The Tornadoes was a deadly tornado event in Florida during the night of February 22-23, 1998 in the central part of the state, including the Orlando area. The outbreak killed 42 people and injured 260, the worst such tornado event in Florida since March 31, 1962. The first major tornado hit Winter Garden at 11:40 p.m., and the deadliest tornado struck the Kissimmee area at 12:40 a.m. before dissipating at 1:28 a.m. EST.
Short (finance)
To short an asset means to bet that the asset will lose value, or that the current price is overvalued (higher than its supposed value). If the asset in question does indeed lose value, the person who "shorted" it will win the bet, and make a profit.
This can be done by borrowing assets and selling them at a higher price, returning the asset once you can buy it back at a lower price.