1.
2-XL
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2-XL, is an educational toy robot that was marketed from 1978-1981 by the Mego Toy Corporation. The toy was then re-introduced by Tiger Electronics in the 1990s, 2XL was the first smart-toy in that it exhibited rudimentary intelligence, memory, game play, and responsiveness. It was infused with a personality that kept kids concentrating and challenged as they played and interacted with the robot and this made learning fun through use of jokes, funny sayings, and verbal reinforcements. During its time in the marketplace, and even to this day, 2XL is heralded as an important step in the development of toys and in particular. Two-decades after 2-XL was discontinued for manufacture, it is remembered by millions of fans. 2-XL was considered one of the top 10 toys ever developed by Playthings Magazine because it could educate, 2-XL was considered the first smart-toy and exhibited rudimentary intelligence, memory, game play, and responsiveness. Dubbed the Toy with a Personality, 2-XL could respond verbally to the user depending upon which input or answer buttons were chosen. 2XL during its run was one of the most popular toys in terms of revenue and was dubbed the Talking Robot with a mind of its own. The toys voice was done by inventor Michael Freeman and it was a great way to make learning cool and fun. 2-XL was first introduced in 1978 by the Mego Toy company and it was brought back in 1992 by Tiger Electronics a division of the Mattel Corporation. Mego Corporation, a publicly traded US based toy company based in New York City was introduced the 2-XL toy to the public in 1978, the toy was sold in different countries and and the tapes were translated in seven foreign languages. Games were also developed for the toy, in 1981, the toys popularity waned, and it was later discontinued. Mego Corporation, that was known for its production of dolls and classic action figures in the 70s was seen as an innovator combining toys. The toys name literally meant To Excel, the toy was voice capable, was able to tell stories and sing using its special 8-track tapes. The toys tapes asked multiple choice questions based type of tape chosen according to its subject and this was operated by pushing a YES/NO button that changed the tracking of the tape. It was crude, but reportedly innovative use of the technology that was present in that era, in 1992, 2-XL was re-introduced by Tiger Electronics, a toy company based in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The toy was changed into a modern design, and new programmed toy cartridges were also introduced. The voice for this version was done by Freeman as well, the robot was a popular educational toy whose success anticipated the dominant influence of technology in education today
2.
9 Story Media Group
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The company has employed over 250 creative and production staff in its Toronto facility and has produced over 900 half hours of award-winning children’s content. 9 Story recently acquired the animation studio Brown Bag Films, which employs over 170 staff members across Dublin, Manchester, Brown Bag has been producing animated children’s series such as The Octonauts, Doc McStuffins, Bing Bunny, and Henry Hugglemonster. On October 6,2015,9 Story announced a new partnership with Hit Entertainment to relaunch iconic pre-school brands ‘Barney & Friends’. 3 Amigonauts Almost Naked Animals Arthur Best Ed Barbie Video Game Hero Cache Craze Camp Lakebottom Daniel Tigers Neighborhood Fugget About It Futz
3.
12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
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The 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a United States Air Force flying unit, assigned to the 461st Air Control Wing, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron flies the E-8C Joint STARS, providing airborne battle management, command and control, surveillance, and target acquisition. Combatant Commanders 10 Combat Mission Ready Crews Vision, Airmen who demonstrate the ability, acumen, and the audacity to secure our nations interests Truths, JSTARS, its Airmen, and U. S. The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Langley Field, Virginia in October 1942 as the 523d Bombardment Squadron, one month later, it was redesignated the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron. The squadron was equipped with a number of different types of bombers. With the 378th, the squadron engaged in patrols off the east coast of the United States. In January 1943, it moved to RAF St Eval, England, from St Eval it began flying antisubmarine patrols around England. Although the squadron remained assigned to the 25th Wing, at St Eval and its mission was to patrol an area of the Atlantic north and west of Morocco. Its antisubmarine activity reached a peak in July, when German U-boats concentrated off the coast of Portugal to intercept Allied convoys bound for the Mediterranean and its actions protected supply lines for forces involved in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. The unit most frequently attacked enemy subs 700 miles off the coast of Spain, in what was termed and this was an area in which the subs surfaced to recharge their batteries. It was also possible to them in this location before they joined up into wolfpacks. The 2d Squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its contributions in the Battle of the Atlantic against German submarines. The squadron returned to the United States at end of 1943 and was disbanded at Clovis Army Air Field in January 1944, most of the units aircrews became cadres for Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit at Clovis. The 327th Ferrying Squadron, which was activated at Capodichino Air Base, the 327th flew cargo, passengers, and mail to destinations in Italy, Sardinia, Corsica, North Africa, and southern France. It moved to the United States in late September 1945 and was inactivated in October, in the fall of 1966 Operation Ranch Hand expanded its size with the delivery of eleven additional Fairchild UC-123B Provider aircraft that had been authorized earlier in the year. Sixteen days later, the squadron suffered its first loss when an aircraft was shot down in the Iron Triangle, due to crowding at Tan Son Nhut, also Saigons commercial airport, the squadron moved to Bien Hoa Air Base in December. In October 1966, the squadron began flying insecticide missions. These missions focused on killing malaria spreading mosquitos, a single aircraft was dedicated to this mission, since the application rate of insecticide was much lower than that for herbicides and one mission could cover a large area
4.
40th Airlift Squadron
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The 40th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas. The unit currently flies the new Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, it is one of the most decorated airlift units in the U. S. Air Force. On 18 February 1942, the squadron was activated as the 40th Transport Squadron at Duncan Field, San Antonio, beginning with only a second lieutenant squadron commander and eight enlisted men, the squadron slowly took shape, and in about four months was full-sized. At this time it transferred to Bowman Field, Kentucky where it began flying the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a few days later, the Squadron left North Carolina for the Mobile Air Depot, Alabama where it received thirteen new C-47s. After they checked out the airplanes, the squadron flew to California, on 5 January 1943, the Squadron left California for the Southwest Pacific Theater of operations. Two days later it landed at Brisbane, Australia where it came under the command of the Fifth Air Force, after a short time in Brisbane, the Squadron moved to Barbutt Field, Townsville, Australia, the Squadrons first permanent oversees home. In the Buna campaign, the 40th ferried food, ammunition, equipment, as the battle of Buna neared its end, the fight for Wau was just beginning. At Wau, the Squadron supported Australian commandos known as the Kanga Force who were harassing the Japanese, Squadron pilots soon became accustomed to landing on the 3, 000-foot dirt strip at Wau with its 12 per cent grade heading directly at Kainde Mountain. The crews flew in reinforcements, ammunition, artillery pieces, food, Wau saw the 40ths first combat casualties when a crew crashed while attempting to land on 18 January. On 29 January, the Japanese began an assault on the airstrip. They managed to reach one end of the runway, which they placed under constant mortar fire, at times, planes circled as the Australians fought the Japanese far enough back into the jungle to allow the aircraft to land. Many of the reinforcements flown into the strip jumped from the planes straight into the battle with their guns firing, by the end of 30 January, most of the Japanese attacks had been repulsed, and the airstrip remained in Allied hands for the remainder of the war. The 40th Troop Carrier Squadron received its first Distinguished Unit Citation for its efforts at Wau, after these two battles, the 40th established and operated air routs across Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. The pace of operations did not slacken and the squadron engaged in a variety of tactical airlift actions. Primarily, these included airlifting troops, reinforcements, supplies, and equipment into combat and it frequently dropped paratroopers during airborne assault operations, and delivered equipment and supplies by airdrop. The 40ths next major battle occurred on 5 September, when Allied Forces assaulted the island of Lae, the Squadron joined the rest of the 317th Troop Carrier Group in an air assault on the Nadzab plain. General Kenney, Fifth Air Force commander, later said, I truly don’t believe that air force in the world today could have put this over as perfectly as the Fifth Air Force did. As Allied troops pressed westward across New Guinea, the Squadron moved to Ward Airdrome at Port Moresby and this move, accomplished on 6 October 1943, placed the Squadron closer to combat, and eliminated many of the long flights back to Australia
5.
82d Training Wing
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The 82d Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command, Second Air Force. It is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas where it also is the host unit, the Wing produces more than 62,000 graduates annually in more than 1,000 Technical Training courses. It also hosts the 80th Flying Training Wing, the only internationally manned and managed flying training program. The units history goes back to the 82d Fighter Group, which was a Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force combat unit that fought in North Africa, during the early years of the Cold War, the 82d Fighter Wing was a Strategic Air Command fighter escort and tactical fighter unit. The commander of the 82d Training Wing is Brig, the Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Eric Johnson. The 82 TRW is the largest of four technical training wings in Air Education, the 82d, 782d, and 982d Training Groups conduct training at Sheppard and at geographically separated locations around the country. The 982d Training Group conducts training at locations worldwide, additionally, the 82d Comptroller Squadron reports directly to the 82 TRW. The wings history started with the 82d Fighter Group, which fought in Europe during World War II, the 82d was established as a Strategic Air Command fighter wing on 28 July 1947 at Grenier Field, New Hampshire. The 82d Fighter Wing was established in accordance with the Hobson Plan which established a wing at each Air Force Base that commanding all groups. However, the Air Force did not organize to the wing until 15 August 1947, the wing was attached to the 307th Bomb Wing from 15 August 1947 to 15 December 1948. On 16 December 1948 the wing was reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force, the operational flying component of the wing was the 82d Fighter Group, composed of the 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons and were equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lighting aircraft. Most officers that arrived were rated pilots that had returned to military life. Many had World War II combat experience, many officers and enlisted men arrived at Grenier from 62nd Fighter Squadron, a unit that had just returned from a winter test in Alaska. The wing was relieved of its responsibilities to the Fifteenth Air Force on 22 August 1949 and was inactivated on 20 October 1949, assigned to the wing were the 96th and 97th Flying Training Squadrons. On 19 September 1976, the first women entered undergraduate pilot training, ten female students were in Class 77-08. First Lieutenant Christine E. Schott became the first woman to solo in the T-38, on 2 September 1977, Class 77-08 graduated. The ten women received their wings along with 36 male classmates, in March 1978, the 82d’s first female instructor pilot, Capt Connie Engel, was assigned to the 97th Fighter Training Squadron to instruct T-38 students. Air Training Command activated the 98th and the 99th Flying Training Squadrons on 1 June 1988 to test a four-squadron organization, the test showed the wing needed a fifth squadron to provide operational support
