Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 9

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Today's featured article
In the "Black Friday" air attack of World War II a force of Allied Bristol Beaufighter aircraft suffered heavy casualties during an unsuccessful attack on German destroyer Z33 and her escorting vessels on 9 February 1945. The German ships were sheltering in a strong defensive position in Førde Fjord, Norway, forcing the Allied aircraft to attack through heavy anti-aircraft fire. The Beaufighters and their escort of North American P-51 Mustang fighters were also surprised by twelve German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters. In the resulting attack the Allies damaged at least two of the German ships for the loss of seven Beaufighters shot down by flak guns. Another two Beaufighters and one Mustang were destroyed by the Fw 190s. Either four or five German fighters were shot down by the Allied aircraft, including one flown by an ace. Due to the losses suffered in this raid the Allied anti-shipping force adopted new tactics which placed a lower priority on attacking warships. (more...) Recently featured: Buffalo nickel – Kingdom Hearts – Battersea Bridge Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that Way Kambas National Park in Indonesia hosts a breeding centre for the critically endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros (pictured)? ... that block cellular automata, invented by Norman Margolus, can be used to simulate lattice gases, sand piles, and billiard-ball computers? ... that the 15th-century church of St Twrog, Bodwrog, Wales, has some bull's head decorations, showing its link with a prominent local family of that time? ... that the Groundhog Day blizzard and ice storm of 2011 produced storm surges near Chicago and forced the first school cancellations in both Chicago and Toronto since 1999? ... that the Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén in Guatemala was built to offset damage from a highway construction project? ... that the GT-1 could deliver a torpedo up to 25 miles (40 km) from its launching aircraft? ... that the Friends of Five Creeks helps restore creeks in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay including daylighting Marin Creek? ... that the Allenton hippopotamus was discovered in England in 1895 and is now in Derby Museum? ... that Henry Fonda took singing lessons to prepare to be the male lead in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, but said that even so, he "couldn't sing for shit"? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
A new round of clashes erupts between Cambodian and Thai soldiers over the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple. NASA's STEREO satellites obtain the first simultaneous images of the entire surface of the Sun (preliminary image pictured). In American football, the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV. The Japan Sumo Association cancels a Grand Tournament for the first time in 65 years after a match-fixing controversy. Following an explosion affecting the Arab Gas Pipeline in Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, natural gas supplies to Israel and Jordan are suspended. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 9 1920 – The Svalbard Treaty was signed, recognizing Norwegian sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, but all signatories were also given equal rights to engage in commercial activities on the islands. 1950 – U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the U.S. State Department of being filled with communists, sparking a period of strong anti-communist sentiment in the United States that became known as McCarthyism. 1964 – English rock band The Beatles made their first appearance on American variety show The Ed Sullivan Show before a record-breaking audience, beginning a musical phenomenon known as the British Invasion. 1976 – The Australian Defence Force was formed by the unification of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. 2001 – The American submarine USS Greeneville accidentally collided with the Ehime Maru (wreckage pictured), a Japanese training vessel operated by the Uwajima Fishery High School. More anniversaries: February 8 – February 9 – February 10 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 9 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The flower of a Dahlia hybrid. Dahlias, named after Swedish 18th-century botanist Anders Dahl, are bushy, tuberous, perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, and dahlia hybrids are common garden plants.

Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim

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