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Morocco national football team

The Morocco national football team (منتخب الْمَغْرِب لِكُرَّةُ الْقَدَم) represents Morocco in men's international football, and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Morocco.

One of Africa's most successful national football teams, Morocco won the 1976 African Cup of Nations, two African Nations Championships and a FIFA Arab Cup while participating in the FIFA World Cup six times. They made history in 1986, when they became the first African team to finish top of a group at a World Cup and the first African team to reach the knockout stages. However, they lost to West Germany 1–0.

Morocco defied all expectations at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, topping their group containing Croatia, Canada and Belgium. Morocco also eliminated Spain and Portugal to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, and the second African semi-finalist in an official senior world championship, the other being Egypt in the 1928 Olympics. They were also the third ever World Cup semi-finalist not from Europe or South America. Morocco were knocked out by France in the semi-finals and lost the third place play-off to Croatia, therefore finishing in 4th-place, their highest ever finish. Morocco is set to become the second African nation, the second MENA nation and the first North African nation to host the World Cup when it was granted host status for the 2030 edition alongside the two European countries Portugal and Spain.

The Atlas Lions were ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings in April 1998. They were ranked as the top African national team for three consecutive years, from 1997 to 1999, and again since December 2022. As of April 2024, Morocco is ranked as the 13th best national team in the world.

Pre-independence period
The Moroccan national team was founded in 1928 and played its first game on 22 December of that year against the B team of France, to whom it lost 2–1. This team, formed by the best footballers of the LMFA or the Moroccan Football League (settlers or natives), was active in friendly matches against other North African teams such as those of Algeria and Tunisia. These associations of settler clubs and local footballers, in addition to having their own championship, clashed with each other in a tournament that Morocco won several times, such as in 1948–1949.

The LMFA also faced some club teams such as NK Lokomotiva Zagreb in January 1950, as well as France A and France B. Against France A the LMFA made a 1–1 draw in Casablanca in 1941.

On 9 September 1954, an earthquake struck the Algerian region of Orléansville (now Chlef) and caused the destruction of the city and the death of over 1,400 people. On 7 October 1954, the French Football Association and the Maghreb inhabitants organized a charity match to raise funds for the families of the victims of the catastrophic event. In the match, held at the Parc de Princes in Paris, a team made up of Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians played against the national team of France. Led by star Larbi Benbarek, the Maghreb selection managed to win 3–2, a month before the Toussaint Rouge attacks by the Algerian National Liberation Front which marked the beginning of the Algerian War.

Beginning of Morocco (1955–1963)
In 1955, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was established, at the end of the French protectorate of Morocco, which had lasted since 1912.

On 19 October 1957, at the 2nd edition of the Arab Games in Lebanon, Morocco made its debut as an independent country against Iraq, at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, and drew 3–3. At the tournament, Morocco took the first win in its history against Libya, winning 5–1, then beat Tunisia 3–1 to reach the semi-finals. After a 1–1 draw with Syria, lots were drawn to decide who would progress to the final, and Syria were selected at Morocco's expense. Morocco withdrew from the third-place play-off against Lebanon and finished fourth overall.

Between 1957 and 1958, Morocco held numerous friendly matches against the National Liberation Front team, the representative of Algeria before its independence in 1958. In 1959, the team took part for the first time in an international competition, the qualifying rounds of the 1960 Rome Olympics. Drawn into a group with Tunisia and Malta, Morocco finished second on goal difference and failed to progress. That same year, the football federation of Morocco joined FIFA.

In 1960, Morocco competed in World Cup qualification for the first time. Drawn against Tunisia in the first round, Morocco won the first leg 2–1, while Tunisia won the second leg 2–1. A play-off held in Palermo, Italy also finished in a tie, so a coin toss was used to determine who progressed. Morocco won the toss, and beat Ghana 1–0 on aggregate to reach the inter-continental play-offs. Drawn against Spain, Morocco lost 4–2 on aggregate and thus failed to qualify.

In 1961, Morocco held the Pan-Arab Games and won the football tournament, winning all five of their matches. Their third match, against Saudi Arabia, resulted in Morocco's biggest-ever victory, winning 13–1. They also claimed their first two wins against a European team, beating East Germany 2–1 and 2–0.

In 1963, the Moroccan team came close to qualifying for the African Cup of Nations. In the decisive play-off against Tunisia, they were defeated 4–1 in Tunis and won 4–2 at home, therefore being eliminated. At the Mediterranean Games in Naples 1963, they finished fourth after a 2–1 defeat in the final for third place against Spain's reserve team.

First appearances in international competitions (1963–1976)
Morocco participated in the final phase of an international competition for the first time at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Having qualified under the leadership of manager Mohamed Massoun, the Moroccans were included in a group of three teams due to the withdrawal of North Korea. Morocco lost both their matches, against Hungary (6–0, the team's worst-ever defeat) and Yugoslavia (3–1, despite taking the lead in the second minute via Ali Bouachra).

In 1966, the Moroccan Football Association joined the Confederation of African Football and was able to participate in the competitions organized by the CAF.

In 1968 and 1969, the team was engaged in qualifying for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Their debut eliminated Senegal (1–0) and Tunisia after a draw. In the final round of the preliminaries, against Sudan and Nigeria, Morocco obtained five points, finishing ahead of Nigeria. Shortly after, Morocco lost the decisive play-off against Algeria to enter the final stage of the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations.

Morocco thus became the first African national team to qualify for the World Cup after having played in an elimination tournament. The Moroccan team, coached by the Yugoslav Blagoje Vidinić, consisted entirely of players in the Moroccan league, including Driss Bamous and Ahmed Faras.

On 3 June 1970, against West Germany, Morocco opened the scoring with a goal in the 21st minute of the game scored by Houmane Jarir. In the second half, however, the Germans scored twice and won 2–1. The Atlas Lions then played against Peru, conceding three goals in ten minutes to lose 3–0. On 11 June 1970, the eliminated Moroccans drew with Bulgaria 1–1. It was the first point obtained by an African national team at the World Cup.

In 1972 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, the Atlas Lions ousted Algeria, then faced Egypt, beating them 3–0 in the first leg and suffering a 3–2 defeat on the way back. Despite this, they qualified for the final phase of the continental tournament for the first time. In the group stage, they accumulated three 1–1 draws against Congo, Sudan and Zaire and were eliminated in the first round. All three Moroccan goals were scored by Ahmed Faras.

Qualifying for the 1972 Olympics with two wins and two draws, Morocco debuted in Group A with a goalless draw against the United States, then lost 3–0 against hosts West Germany and defeated Malaysia 6–0 with a Faras hat-trick, thereby advancing to the second round. Due to defeats against USSR (3–0), Denmark (3–1) and Poland (5–0), they were eliminated from the tournament; finishing bottom of their group. To date, this result remains the best performance of the Atlas Lions at the Olympic football tournament.

In the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, Morocco successfully passed three qualifying rounds before entering the final round alongside Zambia and Zaire. Losing 4–0 away against Zambia, the Moroccans bounced back in the second game, defeating the same opponent 2–0 at home. They then went to Zaire for their third game but lost 3–0, conceding all three goals in the second half, with Faras leaving the field due to injury. Morocco filed an appeal, trying to get the match to be replayed; it was dismissed by FIFA. In protest, Morocco withdrew from the qualifiers causing the Atlas Lions to miss their final game at home against Zaire which had already qualified for the finals, with FIFA awarding Zaire a 2–0 win on walkover. For the same reason, Morocco also decided not to take part in the 1974 African Cup of Nations qualification.

In 1974, Morocco played only two games, both against Algeria, achieving a 2–0 win and a 0–0 draw. Morocco then resumed its regular FIFA and CAF competitions, qualifying for the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations by eliminating Ghana in the last round, but failed to qualify for the 1976 Olympics, being eliminated by Nigeria.

Between successes and defeats (1976–1986)
Morocco, coached by the Romanian Virgil Mărdărescu and captained by Faras, took the continental throne at 1976 African Cup of Nations, in only the country's second participation in the competition. Ahmed Makrouh scored in the final to equalize at 1–1, which gave Morocco the first, and to date, only cup in its history.

After failing to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, they also did not make 1978 and 1982. At the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations, they were eliminated in the first round, while at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations they finished in third place, beating Egypt 2–0. They then won the 1983 Mediterranean Games, played at home, thanks to a 3–0 win in the final against Turkey B.

Morocco did not qualify for either the 1982 or 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. Two years later, they finished fourth, losing 3–2 in the third-place play-off to Ivory Coast.

Golden generation (1986–2000)
Morocco qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup which took place in Mexico, and surprisingly topped a group with Portugal, England and Poland, thanks to two draws against the English and Polish and a 3–1 win against the Portuguese. However, they were narrowly eliminated by West Germany in the first knockout round, thanks to a goal from Lothar Matthäus one minute from the end of regulation time. Morocco became the first African and Arab national team to advance from the first round of the World Cup.

Two years later, the Moroccan team presented itself at the 1988 African Cup of Nations as a host country with high expectations. After winning in the first round, they were eliminated in the semifinals by Cameroon and finished in fourth place after losing the third-place play-off against Algeria 1–1 after extra time, 4–3 after penalties.

Failure to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup opened a period of crisis. In the 1992 African Cup of Nations, the team was eliminated in the first round. They then did not participate in the 1994 or 1996 African Cup tournaments. They, however, did qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States and the 1998 tournament in France.

At the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, after winning their group, Morocco were defeated by South Africa 2–1.

Difficult years (2006–2017)
Morocco took part in the 2004 African Cup of Nations, drawn into Group D defeating Nigeria 1–0, defeating Benin 4–0 and drawing 1–1 with South Africa. Morocco qualified to the knockout stages, facing Algeria; they eventually won 3–1 in extra time, and 4–0 against Mali in the semi-final. They lost the 2004 African Cup of Nations Final against Tunisia 2–1.

In 2012, the national team won the Arab Cup, topping their group, defeating Iraq in the semi-final and Libya in the final.

In 2014, Morocco debuted in the African Nations Championship after failing to qualify in the 2009 and 2011 editions. Led by coach Hassan Benabicha, Morocco were eliminated in the second round after losing 4–3 to Nigeria in the quarter-finals. They managed to qualify for the 2016 African Nations Championship, but were eliminated in the group stages. Morocco hosted the 2018 African Nations Championship, which included a victory for the home nation, the third North African country to win the competition's title.

Second golden generation (2017–present)
Morocco returned to the World Cup after a 20-year absence in 2018. The North Africans were drawn in Group B with World Cup favourites Spain, Portugal, and Iran. In their opening game against Iran, Morocco showed full dedication but lost 1–0 in the final minutes of the match, scored by an own goal. In their second game, Morocco faced Portugal but ended losing 1–0 by a goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo. In the last match against Spain they took the lead 2–1 but was unable to keep it, and drew 2–2, scored by Khalid Boutaïb and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Morocco entered the 2019 AFCON with high confidence and players claiming them to be the favorite to win. However, in spite of three straight group stage wins, Morocco were shockingly knocked out by Benin in the round of sixteen.

At the 2020 African Nations Championship in Cameroon, Morocco won their second CHAN title, in its second consecutive final appearance. Captained by Ayoub El Kaabi, they defeated Togo (1–0), Rwanda (0–0), the Uganda (5–2), Zambia (3–1), and Cameroon (4–0) on the way to a final against Mali in Yaoundé. Morocco won 2–0, with both goals scored late into the second half by Soufiane Bouftini and Ayoub El Kaabi. Morocco thus became the first team to win back-to-back titles. Soufiane Rahimi went on to be named Total Man of the tournament after an astonishing performance scoring a total of 5 goals.

In December 2021, Morocco started its venture at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup's Group C, along with Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia. Morocco opened the tournament with a 4–0 win against Palestine, Morocco then managed to overcome a highly defensive Jordan with another 4–0 triumph, They won their final match in a 1–0 victory against Saudi Arabia. they were eliminated in the quarter-final after penalty-shootout against Algeria.

After easily topping their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group which consisted of Mauritania, Burundi, and Central African Republic, Morocco were one of the favorites to win the 2021 edition of the tournament hosted in Cameroon. Morocco were drawn into group E that included Gabon, Ghana and Comoros. Morocco won its first game against Ghana scored by Sofiane Boufal in the final minutes of the game. In their second game against Comoros, they claimed a 2–0 victory. Their final match against Gabon ended in a draw, making Morocco reach the round of 16 after ending up first in the group. They defeated Malawi 2–1 in the round of 16. They were eliminated in the quarter-final after a 2–1 loss against Egypt.

After qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by winning the third round of CAF qualifiers, the team was drawn in Group F along with Croatia, Belgium, and Canada. Morocco were not expected to qualify, but after holding previous runners-up Croatia to a 0–0 draw and shocking previous third place Belgium 2–0, a 2–1 win over Canada meant they finished top of the group and advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1986. In the round of 16, they met Spain, drawing 0–0. In the subsequent penalty shootout, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved two penalties, and Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive penalty with a panenka penalty for Morocco to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time. They advanced further to the semi-finals winning against favourite Portugal, 1–0, with a powerful header by Youssef En-Nesyri. That made Morocco the first African and Arab team to qualify for the semi-finals.

However, they lost to France in the semi-final, 2–0 on 14 December at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, putting an end to Morocco's World Cup run. They played Croatia in the third place play-off on 17 December at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al-Rayyan, a rematch of the earlier group stage meeting. They lost 2–1 to the latter, and ended their World Cup campaign at fourth place. The team would go on to donate their entire World Cup earnings from the tournament to charities within Morocco that help with poverty that affects children and families in the country by the earthquake.

Home stadium
From 2011, the Atlas Lions played most of their matches in the new Marrakesh Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,240 seats. The stadium is considered to bring luck to the Moroccan team; they won several matches there in front of a large audience, notably beating Algeria 4–0 in qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

During Badou Ezzaki's tenure as coach from 2014 to 2016, Morocco played most of its matches at the Adrar stadium in Agadir, which has a capacity of 45,480. A friendly was played there during the tenure of Hervé Renard between Morocco and the Netherlands in 2017.

Morocco also has other large stadiums built in the 2000s such as the Fez Stadium which has 45,000 seats and which hosts the two clubs of the city: MAS Fez and Wydad de Fès.

Kit suppliers
Morocco's home colours are most red shirts and green shorts and socks, away colours are usually all white or all green.

Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024
{{Football box collapsible }}
 * format    = 1
 * round     = Friendly
 * date      = 11 January
 * time      = {{UTZ|15:00|0}}}
 * team1     =
 * score     = 1–3
 * team2     = 🇲🇦 morocco
 * goals1    =
 * Komeh ⚽ 10'
 * goals2    =
 * En-Nesyri ⚽ 30', 55'
 * Boufal ⚽ 35'
 * stadium   = Laurent Pokou Stadium
 * location  = San Pédro, Ivory Coast
 * attendance =
 * referee   =
 * result    = W
 * report    = https://www.besoccer.com/match/seleccion-marruecos/sierra-leona/2024664041/lineups

Current squad
The following players were called up for 2026 World Cup qualification matches against Zambia and Congo, on 7 and 11 June 2024 respectively.

Caps and goals are correct as of 11 June 2024, after the match against 🇨🇩 congo.

Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

INJ

DEC Player declined the call-up to the squad INJ Did not make it to the current squad due to injury PRE Preliminary squad / standby RET Player retired from internationals SUS Player is suspended WD Player withdrew from the roster for non-injury related reasons

Player records

 * Players in bold are still active with Morocco.

FIFA World Cup
Morocco's national football team has participated in the World Cup six times. Their best performance was in the 2022 tournament where they finished in fourth place, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

Olympic games

 * Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since the 1992 edition.

African Games

 * Prior to the Cairo 1991 campaign, the Football at the All-Africa Games was open to full senior national teams.

Mediterranean Games
1951 to 1987 senior teams, from 1991 youth teams.

Head-to-head performance
Correct as of 11 June 2024.

Major competitions

 * Africa Cup of Nations
 * Gold medal africa.svg Champions: 1976
 * Silver medal africa.svg Runner-up: 2004
 * Bronze medal africa.svg Third place: 1980
 * Fourth place: 1986, 1988
 * African Nations Championship
 * Gold medal africa.svg Champions: 2018, 2020
 * FIFA Arab Cup
 * Champions: 2012
 * Third-place: 2002
 * Arab Games
 * Gold Medal: 1961, 1976
 * Silver Medal: 1985
 * Kuneitra Cup
 * Gold Medal: 1974
 * Mediterranean Games
 * Gold MedGames.svg Gold Medal: 1983

Awards
African National Team of the Year
 * First place: 1985, 1986, 1997, 2023
 * Second place: 1993, 1998, 2003, 2004
 * Third place: 1980

FIFA Best Mover of the Year
 * First place: 2022
 * Third place: 1993

Orders and decorations

 * 🇲🇦 Morocco: Officers of the Order of the Throne (20 December 2022)

Other football codes

 * Morocco national futsal team
 * Morocco national beach soccer team

title: Morocco national football team


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William Henry Davies

William Henry Davies may refer to:

 * W. H. Davies (1871–1940), Welsh poet and writer
 * William Henry Davies (entrepreneur) (1831–1921), English-born Canadian founder of the William Davies Company

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Joseph Rovan

Joseph Adolphe Rovan (born Joseph Adolph Rosenthal in Munich, Germany on July 25, 1918, died July 27, 2004), was a French philosopher and politician, and is considered a spiritual father of post-war Europe. Initially born into the Jewish faith, on Whitsunday 1944 he was received into the Catholic Church.

Rovan was active in the French Resistance during World War II and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille de la Résistance for his services. In 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo and survived 10 months in the Dachau concentration camp. It was during this time that he converted to Catholicism. In 1945, after his return to France, he wrote in the magazine Esprit the article "L'Allemagne de nos mérites," where he suggested that the creation of a democratic Germany on the ruins of the Third Reich was the responsibility of the Allies.

Rovan has also been awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the Ordre National du Mérite, the German Order of Merit with Star, and the Bavarian Order of Merit. He died in a swimming accident in France.

title: Joseph Rovan


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Category:Castles in Switzerland

This category includes castles, castle ruins, palaces, and other notable stately residences in Switzerland.

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Air Botswana

Air Botswana Corporation is Botswana's state-owned national flag carrier, with its headquarters located in Gaborone. It operates scheduled domestic and regional flights from its main base at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Air Botswana has been loss-making for several years, and there have been various attempts to privatise the company, and frequent changes to the corporation's management and board, so far without reducing the losses.

Formative years (1972–1986)
Air Botswana (Pty.) Limited was founded on the 2nd of July 1972 to succeed two failed former national airlines: Botswana National Airways (1966–1969) and Botswana Airways Corporation (1970–1971). Air Botswana Holdings was responsible for the ownership and leasing of aircraft, and served as the holding company for Air Botswana. During the early formative years, Air Botswana (Pty.) Limited acted as a contractor for numerous flight services, which were contracted to South African Protea Airways, via a local subsidiary, Air Services Botswana.

Flight operations began on 1 August 1972 utilising the only aircraft of the company: a Fokker F-27 Friendship. Throughout the 1970s, Air Botswana operated a round-trip route from Gaborone-Manzini-Johannesburg-Harare-Gaborone, in addition to domestic services to Francistown, Maun and Selebi-Phikwe. By the late 1970s, Air Botswana operated one HS 748, one Douglas DC-3 and one Vickers Viscount 754, the latter on lease from Protea Airways.

The contract with Air Services Botswana for operation of the airline was not renewed, and in 1981 British Airways was awarded a contract for the operation of the airline for a six-year period. Also in 1981, Botswana Development Corporation was formed as a part of Air Botswana Holdings, with the corporation being tasked to acquire an aircraft for the airline to lease. The Fokker F27 was again chosen, and because of a lack of their own trained crews, the airline seconded crews from Comair and contracted maintenance out to Safair Freighters. In 1983 a Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules was leased and Air Botswana Cargo was formed to operate cargo charters, and when South African Airways ended services to Lesotho and Swaziland, a second F27 was acquired and services to Maseru and Manzini were inaugurated. A sixteen-seat Dornier 228-200 was leased in December 1984 from Kalahari Air Service, with the latter flying and maintaining the aircraft for Air Botswana. The 57 million pula Sir Seretse Khama International Airport opened on 10 December 1984, seeing Air Botswana operating from the airport. By the end of 1986, the route network included Gaborone, Francistown, Johannesburg, Harare, Lusaka, Manzini, Maseru, Maun, Selebi-Phikwe and Victoria Falls.

Government corporation
On 1 April 1988, Air Botswana was absorbed by the Botswana government as a parastatal corporation under the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications as a result of the Air Botswana Act (1988), and became the nation's flag carrier. Also in April 1988, Air Botswana became the first airline from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) to establish air links with Namibia. Air Botswana operations are regulated by the Botswana Department of Civil Aviation, under the Civil Aviation Act (1977).

Two ATR 42–230 arrived in 1988, leading to the sale of the Fokkers, and the first BAe 146 arrived in November 1989. The BAe 146 entered service on 12 November on the Gaborone-Harare route, operated five times per week in conjunction with Air Zimbabwe, along with other destinations of the network of the airline in southern Africa. The airline also entered into block-seat arrangements with international airlines, including an agreement with British Caledonian which provided seats on the Lusaka-Gaborone sector of the London-Lusaka-Gaborone service.

In December 1992, the government enacted the Control of Smoking Act (1992), and Air Botswana became the first company in Botswana to respond to the act by banning smoking on all domestic flights in 1993, which was later extended to all flights in the Southern African Development Community region in 1995. Whilst the years 1988 to 1993 saw Air Botswana incurring financial losses, in 1994 the government wrote off P74 million of the airline's losses and converted them into equity.

Destruction of fleet (1999)
On 11 October 1999, the airline was crippled when one of its pilots, Chris Phatswe, crashed an empty ATR 42 aircraft into Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, destroying the aircraft and two more Air Botswana ATR 42s. Phatswe had stolen the aircraft in the early morning, and once in the air had informed the air traffic control tower that he intended to kill himself; and requested by radio to speak to several people, including President Festus Mogae and the airline's general manager. As Mogae was out of the country, arrangements were made for Phatswe to speak to Vice President Seretse Ian Khama, who expressed willingness to speak to Phatswe.

After the aircraft circled Gaborone for two hours, Phatswe crashed it at a speed of 200 kn into the airline's two other ATR 42s, which were parked on the apron, destroying all three aircraft. The incident left the company with only a single BAe 146, which had been non-operational for a year because of technical problems, forcing the airline to lease an aircraft to operate scheduled flights. It was revealed that Phatswe had been grounded for medical reasons, was refused reinstatement, and was regrounded until February 2000.

Privatisation attempts
Because the airline had been regularly posting financial losses, which was in part is due to overstaffing, the operation of an ageing, fuel-inefficient fleet, increasing operational costs, inadequate management expertise and an inability to retain and attract qualified pilots, the government earmarked Air Botswana to be the first of the parastatals to be privatised. The costs which the airline incurs, in conjunction with low quality of service, poor marketing, high insurance premiums and a slow uptake on new technology, has restricted growth potential for the airline. However, in the five years to 2003, the government had not had to subsidise Air Botswana, and in the previous six years had made a profit.

The privatisation process began on 19 April 2000, when the government signed a consultancy agreement with World Bank-affiliated International Finance Corporation, which saw IFC being appointed as the government's main adviser in the privatisation process.

In 2003, the government attempted to privatise the airline, with Air Mauritius and Comair put forward as strategic partners. The process would have seen the winning bidder receiving a 45% stake in Air Botswana, with the government holding a further 45%, and employees holding the remaining 10%. It was planned that once the airline has firmed its position under new ownership, it would be listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange. Air Mauritius withdrew from the process in September 2003, citing the downturn in global air travel markets since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. Comair withdrew in December 2003, due in part to increased competition by low-cost airlines in the South African market. The government suspended the search for a strategic partner in February 2004.

Following a P300 million loss in the first quarter of 2006, the Sunday Standard reported that the government hurriedly began efforts to privatise the airline before it became insolvent. The newspaper also revealed that the airline defaulted on its US$42,000 – 45,000 payments for the lease of the BAe 146 from April — July 2006, and that the arrears were paid once the airline's Secretary and Corporate Counsel warned that non-compliance with the contracts could lead to the termination of the lease of the aircraft and expose the corporation to claims for damages, which would affect its image during the privatisation process. In September 2006 it was announced that three potential investors had placed bids for the tender to take over the airline: Airlink of South Africa, African World Airways Ltd, and Lobtrans (Ltd), a local truck fuel transporter. Shortlisted companies which did not submit bids included Ethiopian Airlines, Comair, Tourism Empowerment Group, ExecuJet, and Interair South Africa. In November 2006, the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency announced that Airlink has been put forward by the Ministry of Works and Transport as the preferred bidder for Air Botswana.

It was revealed by the press that Nico Czypionka, the man responsible for leading negotiations between the government and Airlink, had convinced the government as early as April 2006 to go into partnership with the South African airline. It was alleged that the deal with Airlink was a foregone conclusion from the beginning of the process, and that other airlines had been invited to submit bids to create and illusion of fair and equitable processes. The Sunday Standard also revealed that the blueprint for the privatisation of the airline was written by Airlink CEO Roger Foster, and was used by Botswana in its negotiations with the airline, in contravention of the Botswana Privatisation Policy of 2003.

As part of the proposed deal with Airlink, it announced that Air Botswana would be wound up, and a new airline to be known as Botswana Airlink would be formed, with the government holding a controlling 50.1% share and the South African airline holding the remaining 49.9%. The new airline would have disposed of the 46-seat ATR 42s, and would instead operate 29-seat BAe Jetstream 41s, which are more suited to low traffic domestic routes. The deal would also have seen the retrenchment of all 300 employees of Air Botswana, with approximately 180 being rehired by the new airline.

The Government ceased negotiations with Airlink in October 2007, when the Cabinet reached a decision that the deal was no longer viable. A major sticking point, according to Mmegi, was that Airlink was adamant in replacing the national colours of blue, black and white, with those of South Africa. The Cabinet also believed the proposal didn't meet requirements for air transport for the country, and didn't address government objectives for the further development of transport and tourism sectors in Botswana, although the tourism industry regards Air Botswana's monopoly of air transport in Botswana, and the resultant high fares and limited schedules, to be a major constraint for the development of tourism in Botswana.

The government then began the search for a management company to operate the company for a three-year period, and also announced that the government would recapitalise the airline by injecting P100 million to improve performance and to make it more attractive for privatisation. The government entered into negotiations with Comair, but following disagreements over terms, negotiations continued with reserve bidder International Development Ireland, in conjunction with Aer Arann.

According to press reports in August 2008, Alexander Lebedev, a Russian oligarch, expressed interest in investing in the airline, and the Ministry of Works and Transport confirmed that Lebedev was invited to travel to Gaborone to present his bid to the government. Part of the bid reportedly included extending Air Botswana's route network to Düsseldorf Airport; the base of Blue Wings which is 48% owned by Lebedev's National Reserve Corporation. At the end of 2008, it was reported that Lebedev had abandoned plans for investment in Air Botswana.

Recent history
In December 2008, Air Botswana signed a deal with ATR for two 68-seat ATR 72–500 regional airliners worth US$37 million. The aircraft were delivered in March 2009, and it was announced that routes linking Kasane and Francistown with Johannesburg would be restarted. The aircraft were delivered at the time of Air Botswana facing increased competition from South African Airways which had re-entered the Johannesburg-Gaborone market. In July 2009, Air Botswana signed a codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, which began flights to Gaborone on 6 September with three flights per week.

The airline left the International Air Transport Association because of its inability to meet the December 2008 deadline of the IATA Operational Safety Audit, but has since been re-admitted as a full member in 2012, under the leadership of the General Manager, Sakhile Nyoni-Reiling.

In December 2012, Nyoni-Reiling resigned, and press reports in May 2013 indicated internal conflicts and that two directors had been suspended for gross mismanagement pending investigations.

In late 2015, Tshenolo Mabeo the, Minister responsible for Transport, sacked the then General Manager Ben Dahwa together with his entire board of directors, following allegations of corruption. General Tebogo Carter Masire, former Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Commander, was appointed in February 2016 to lead Air Botswana as board chairman, replacing Nigel Dixon-Warren.

In November 2019, the EastAfrican newspaper reported that Air Botswana was in the process of cutting its staff numbers from 450 to 210 people. The airline has been running at a loss for more than a decade, reportedly due to high maintenance costs for its planes. The plans also include outsourcing ground handling services to a new company, yet to be formed. It is expected that the majority of the retrenched workers will be hired by the new ground handling outfit.

In December 2023, Lulu Rasebotsa was hired to replace Agnes Khunwana who relocated to CEIBA Intercontinental. During the first six months of her tenure, Rasebotsa oversaw the expansion of the company fleet with the introduction of new aircraft and the expansion of the destinations network. The Botswana government pumped in new money to expand the enterprise.

Ownership
Despite various initiatives to privatise the airline, in whole or in part, Air Botswana remains 100 percent owned by the Government of Botswana.

Business trends
Air Botswana has been consistently loss-making for many years. Although the airline is government owned, full annual reports do not appear to be published. Financial results (for years ending 31 March) are published by the Auditor General, and other data in AFRAA reports, as below:

Destinations
, Air Botswana operated scheduled passenger flights to the following destinations:

Codeshare agreement
Air Botswana has codeshares with the following airlines:
 * Air Seychelles
 * Qatar Airways

Current fleet
, the Air Botswana fleet consisted of the following aircraft:

title: Air Botswana


text:
Aughinish, County Clare

Aughinish, also Aughnish, is a small island and townland in Oughtmama Parish of the Barony of Burren in north County Clare, Ireland. It is on the south shore of Galway Bay, 11 km northwest of Kinvarra. The island is approximately 2 mi wide and 1 mi from the northernmost tip to the southernmost point and has just over fifty inhabitants.

The island was originally connected to County Clare, but that connection was lost due to the tsunami generated by the massive 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The British built the existing 0.5 mi causeway to County Galway to service their troops in the Martello Tower constructed on the island after 1811. To this day, land access to Aughinish, County Clare is still only through County Galway.

title: Aughinish, County Clare


text: Category:Cities in Croatia

title: Category:Cities in Croatia


text:
Sageika

Sageika (Σαγέικα, also: Σαγαίικα - Sagaiika) is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Movri, western Achaea, Greece. It is located in the plains between the Movri hills and the Gulf of Patras. It is 3 km west of Kareika, 6 km east of Metochi, 9 km southwest of Kato Achaia and 28 km southwest of Patras. The Greek National Road 9 (Patras - Pyrgos) runs through the village.

Sageika was the seat of the municipality of Movri, named for the Movri hills south of the village. The municipality was created under the Kapodistrias reform in 1998. The community Sageika consists of the villages Sageika, Apostoloi, Bouteika, Vrachneika, Gerouseika and Stathmos.

title: Sageika


text:
Steven H Silver

Steven H Silver (born April 19, 1967) is an American science fiction fan and bibliographer, publisher, author, and editor. He has been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer twelve times and Best Fanzine eight times without winning (three for Argentus and five for Journey Planet).

The "H" is his middle name and not an initial.

Editor, publisher, and writer
Silver was born in Hinsdale, Illinois. He is a longtime contributing editor to SF Site and wrote that site's news page from its inception in 2002 until it closed in 2014.

Anthologies
In 2003, he co-edited three anthologies with Martin H. Greenberg, Wondrous Beginnings, Magical Beginnings, and Horrible Beginnings, which reprinted the first published stories of authors in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. From 2004 through 2012 he was the publisher and editor of ISFiC Press. He co-edited the alternate history anthology Alternate Peace in 2019 with Joshua Palmatier.

Short fiction
Silver published his first short story, "Les Lettres de Paston", in the final issue of Helix SF. Silver had earlier written a column on alternate history for the magazine. He has continued to publish short stories since, as well as some poetry.

Collections
In 2009 and 2010, he edited the two volume Selected Stories of Lester del Rey for NESFA Press. The first volume is entitled War and Space and appeared in August, 2009. The second volume, Robots and Magic was published in February 2010.

Novels
Silver's first novel, After Hastings, an alternate history in which Harold Godwinson prevented the Norman conquest of Britain by defeating William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, was published by Ring of Fire Press in July 2020.

Sidewise and Nebula Awards
In 1995, he founded the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and has served as a judge ever since. He was on the short story jury for the Nebula Award in 2002, and on the novel jury for the Nebula Award in 2003, 2006, and chaired the novel jury in 2008. In 2005, Silver was one of the co-ordinators of the Nebula weekend in Chicago. In 2008, he was appointed SFWA Event Coordinator and has helped run the Nebula Award Weekends in that capacity from 2009 to 2021.

Fanzines
Silver is known as an on-line reviewer and has written several articles for science fiction fanzines, as well as publishing his own annual fanzine Argentus, which was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Fanzine in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and won the Chronic Rift Roundtable Award for Best Fanzine in 2009 and the monthly APA-zine Plata. He has guest edited five issues of Journey Planet.

Conventions
In addition to his writing and editing activities, Silver is involved in running science fiction conventions. He has chaired Windycon three times, founded Midfan and chaired the first Midwest Construction, and ran programming for Chicon 2000, the Worldcon. From 1998 through 2006 and again from 2008, he sat on the board of directors for ISFiC. He served as a vice chair for Chicon 7 in 2012.

Personal background
In 2000, Silver appeared on Jeopardy! winning two days and coming in second on his third day. He won $15,000.

Novels

 * After Hastings (June 2020), ISBN 978-1948818940

Short fiction

 * "Les Lettres de Paston" (2008), original publish in Helix SF magazine, but has been republished on SF Site
 * "Bats in Thebayou" (2009), published in the anthology Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies, ISBN 978-0-7564-0582-3
 * "Boleslaw Szymanski Gets the Ogden Slip" (2010)
 * "In the Night" (2010), published in the anthology Love & Rockets, ISBN 978-0-7564-0650-9
 * "The Destiny of Einar the Brave" (2011)
 * "In the Shadows of Broadway" (2012), featured on the StarShipSofa podcast #236
 * "The Cremator's Tale" (2013), published in Black Gate magazine
 * "Hunger on Ceos" (2015)
 * "Village Square" (2015)
 * "Well of Tranquility" (2016), published in the anthology Genius Loci: Tales of the Spirit of Place, ISBN 978-1-944760-41-0
 * "Big White Men—Attack!" (2017), published in the anthology Little Green Men—Attack!, ISBN 978-1-4767-8213-3
 * "Doing Business at Hodputt's Emporium" (March 2018), published in Galaxy's Edge, Issue 31, ISBN 978-1-61242-404-0
 * "A Letter Home" (2020), published in Ray Bradbury Experience Museum Newsletter, Volume 2
 * "Worst in Show" (2022), published in the anthology Ludlow Charlington's Doghouse
 * "Best Policy" (2022), published in the anthology Wyrms ISBN 9-798-83742-651-3
 * "Initial Engagement" (2023), published in the anthology Jewish Futures ISBN 978-1-5154-5804-3

title: Steven H Silver


text:
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), or Minnesota Housing, is a state agency in Minnesota, United States, established to address the growing concerns of affordable housing, homelessness, and housing security in the state. Its primary mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities for Minnesotans who are low and moderate income earners. Created by the Minnesota Legislature, the agency works to stimulate the construction, rehabilitation, and sustainability of affordable homes and rental properties.

History
The MHFA was established in 1971 in response to the increasing need for affordable housing solutions in Minnesota. The agency was set up with the intent to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, disabled, and low-income families. It collaborates with local governments, developers, and non-profit organizations to achieve its mission.

Jennifer Ho is the director of MHFA.

Financing programs
MHFA offers a range of financing programs aimed at making homeownership and renting more accessible. This includes low-interest loans, mortgage assistance, and rent subsidies.

Grants and tax credits
The agency is responsible for distributing federal and state housing grants and tax credits to eligible parties. This incentivizes developers to create more affordable housing units.

Research
MHFA conducts research and data analysis to determine housing needs across Minnesota, helping policy-makers make informed decisions regarding housing policies.

Education and counseling
The agency provides education and counseling services to first-time homebuyers and renters to help them understand their rights and responsibilities.

Operations
MHFA works through partnerships with local banks, mortgage lenders, and housing developers. It receives funding from both federal and state governments and allocates these funds through various programs aimed at increasing affordable housing.

Impact and accomplishments
Since its establishment, MHFA has been instrumental in the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of housing units across Minnesota. It has also provided financing to numerous first-time homeowners, thereby aiding in the economic development of the state.

Controversies and criticisms
While MHFA has been pivotal in increasing affordable housing options in Minnesota, it has also faced criticisms. Concerns have been raised about the adequate distribution of resources and whether the agency's work reaches the most vulnerable populations effectively.

Future directions
With the rising challenges of housing insecurity, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency continues to evolve its strategies to meet the needs of a growing and diversifying population. Technological advances and policy reforms are expected to play a significant role in shaping the agency's future endeavors.

title: Minnesota Housing Finance Agency


text:
Tadeusz Andrzejewski

Tadeusz Andrzejewski (1923–1961) was a Polish archeologist and Egyptologist.

Life
Andrzejewski was born in Łódź. After leaving school, he joined the staff of the Warsaw National Museum in the 1940s, and was appointed to a post in University of Warsaw, 1951.

In 1951 Tadeusz became secretary of the Polish Archaeological Mission in Cairo and 1959 he assisted Kazimierz Michałowski at the excavations at Mirmeki, 1956, then spent four years at Tell Atrib, (1957–1961) in the Nile Delta.

During his last year there he made an independent survey of many of the archaeological sites of the Delta and prepared a report on them; during the reconstruction work carried out by the Polish Archeological Institute at the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari he was responsible for the epigraphic work.

The Egyptian Antiquities Service also appointed him to publish the tomb of Ramesses III, all the notes for this being almost completed at his death.

Andrzejewski also took part in the 1959 Polish expedition to Nubia and made the documentation survey of Faras. He published two books in French, 23 articles, a history of Ancient Egypt, a book on Egyptian poetry, a new commentary on Bolesław Prus' historical novel Pharaoh, Księga Umarłych piastunki Kai, and many others. Andrzejewski was extremely important in popularizing old Egyptian literature within Poland as well as the organization of the field of Egyptology in Poland.

title: Tadeusz Andrzejewski


text:
Aachen Flugzeugbau

Aachen Flugzeugbau was a German aircraft manufacturer of the early 20th century, established around the time of World War I. With the end of the war, the prohibition on powered flight in Germany, the firm began to specialize in sailplane construction, and in 1921 became known as Aachener Segelflugzeugbau, producing designs by Wolfgang Klemperer. It was purchased by Junkers in 1923. In 1923 the K. F. glider-related light airplane (also a Klemperer design) was in production. In 1924 a two-seat low-wing monoplane was also flown.

title: Aachen Flugzeugbau


text:
Ateliers Aéronautiques de Suresnes

Ateliers Aéronautiques de Suresnes (AAS) was a French aircraft manufacturer that existed for a short while after World War II. Operating from the Farman Aviation Works factory near Paris, its most notable achievement was completing the two examples of the Heinkel He 274 left unfinished by the Germans.

Later in its history, AAS was combined with other French aeronautical firms into the government-sponsored SNCASO aerospace conglomerate.

title: Ateliers Aéronautiques de Suresnes


text:
Pope Field

Pope Field is a U.S. military facility located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Pope Air Force Base, the facility is now operated by the U.S. Air Force via a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and an interservices support agreement (ISSA) with the U.S. Army as part of Fort Liberty.

Origins
In 1918, Congress established Camp Bragg, an Army field artillery site named for the Confederate General Braxton Bragg. An aviation landing field was added a year later. The War Department officially established "Pope Field" in 1919, and it ranks as one of the oldest installations in the Air Force.

Pope AFB is named after First Lieutenant Harley Halbert Pope who was killed on 7 January 1919, when the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny he was flying crashed into the Cape Fear River. After five years, Camp Bragg became a permanent Army post renamed Fort Bragg, now known as Fort Liberty.

Original operations included photographing terrain for mapping, carrying the mail, and spotting for artillery and forest fires. Observation planes and observation balloons occupied Pope Field for the first eight years. In December 1927, Pope Field played a role in the development of tactics that would prove critically important in shortening World War II.

The 1930s saw the first major expansion of the facilities at Pope. In 1935, Pope Field hosted 535 aircraft in one day as the United States Army Air Corps practiced large scale operations along the East Coast. In 1940, paved runways replaced dirt open fields. Much of the parking ramp space remained unpaved until after World War II.

The tempo of activities at Pope quickened with the outbreak of World War II. During the 1940s, the base swelled as a troop carrier training site, and with the institution of paratrooper training at Fort Bragg, Pope began putting the "Air" in "Airborne". Throughout the war, air and ground crews trained here with Army airborne units in preparation for airborne and aerial resupply missions.

Hangars 4 and 5 and the Pope Air Force Base Historic District were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
After the war, Pope Field became Pope Air Force Base with the creation of the United States Air Force on 18 September 1947. The base served as the home of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, being activated at Pope on 3 December 1947 as the 10th Reconnaissance Group. It was redesignated as the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in June 1948. At Pope, the 10th flew the P/F-51 Mustang, as well as its photo recon variant the F-6, later redesignated the RF-51. Operational squadrons were:
 * 1st Photographic Reconnaissance
 * 15th Photographic Reconnaissance

4415th Air Base Group
The 10th TRG was inactivated on 1 April 1949 and the host unit at Pope was the 4415th Air Base Group. The base primary mission dealt with training Forward Air Controllers for the Korean War This training was conducted by the following operational units:
 * 502d Tactical Control Group (27 June 1949 – 27 August 1950)
 * 507th Tactical Control Group (2 September 1950 – 1 July 1954)

Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, was located at Pope in August 1950. It was transferred to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, on 20 August 1954.

464th Troop Carrier Wing
On 21 September 1954, Ninth AF turned Pope over to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing, a Tactical Air Command unit, which transferred from Lawson AFB, Georgia. Known operational squadrons of the 464th were:
 * 776th Troop Carrier Squadron (transferred to Pacific Air Forces in December 1965)
 * 777th Troop Carrier Squadron
 * 778th Troop Carrier Squadron
 * 779th Troop Carrier Squadron

The 464th (on 1 August 1966 all troop carrier units were redesignated as "tactical airlift") provided airlift of troops and cargo, participated in joint airborne training with Army forces, and took part in tactical exercises in the United States and overseas. The wing provided aeromedical airlift and flew humanitarian missions as required. Until it was inactivated, the 464th usually had two or more squadrons deployed overseas at any one time, supporting military operations in Central America, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Southeast Asia.

The 464th received the Mackay Trophy for the dramatic RED DRAGON/DRAGON ROUGE and BLACK DRAGON/DRAGON NOIR hostage rescue missions in the Congo in 1964. The wing led the deployment of 82nd Airborne forces to the Dominican Republic, April 1965-September 1966. Beginning in 1966, the 464th was responsible for training C-130E aircrew members for duty in troop carrier units in the United States and overseas.

During its time at Pope, a major period of facility expansion occurred. The main runway, the taxiways, and the ramp were all expanded to support the 464th's Fairchild C-119 "Flying Boxcar"s operations. During the 1950s and 1960s, aircraft upgrade was the primary trend at the North Carolina installation. The Fairchild C-123 Provider started replacing the C-119 in 1958, and in 1963, the first C-130 Hercules arrived, appropriately named "The North Carolina".

317th Tactical Airlift Wing
In August 1971, the 464th inactivated and the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing administratively moved to Pope AFB from Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. Known operational squadrons and tail codes of the 317th were:
 * 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron (PB – blue tail stripe)
 * 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron (PG/PB – green tail stripe)
 * 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron (PR/PB – red tail stripe)

The 317th TAW flew the C-130E aircraft. After June 1972, the squadron tail codes were standardized with "PB", representing (Pope/Bragg).

The drop zones, low-level routes, and dirt landing zones at Fort Bragg became familiar to many men bound for Southeast Asia. The training gained in operating in the North Carolina area immeasurably improved aircrew preparedness for combat duty. The wing was a pioneer in the use of adverse weather aerial delivery system (AWADS) equipment in active combat operations in Southeast Asia, and after the end of American involvement, trained European-based NATO aircrews in those same techniques.

During the Vietnam War, Pope was the destination for the bodies of servicemen killed in Southeast Asia. When identification was confirmed, the bodies were sent to their hometowns or the appropriate military cemeteries for burial.

On 1 December 1974 the Military Airlift Command took responsibility for tactical airlift and assumed command of Pope with all of its assigned units. Under MAC, the two-digit tail code designation of the 317th's aircraft was removed.

On 1 January 1992 the 317th TAW was reassigned to Air Mobility Command and the wing was redesignated the 317th Operations Group as part of the new 23d Composite Wing (23d Wing) at Pope. On 1 June 1992 the 317th OG was inactivated. As part of the inactivation, its operational squadrons were dissolved as follows: Replaced at Pope by the 2d Airlift Squadron assigned to the 23d Composite Wing (23d Wing)
 * 39th Airlift Squadron – Activated 1 October 1993 with the 7th Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
 * 40th Airlift Squadron – Activated 1 October 1993 with the 7th Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
 * 41st Airlift Squadron – Reassigned to the 23d Composite Wing (23d Wing)

23rd Wing
Lessons learned in the Gulf War in 1990–1991 led senior defense planners to conclude that the structure of the military establishment created numerous command and control problems. Senior planners reviewed numerous options before agreeing on the final conclusion – a merger of most strategic and tactical air resources and the transfer of the tactical airlift squadrons out of the Military Airlift Command due to their combat orientation. In addition, the number of Air Force wings was to be reduced by about one-third to reflect the financial constraints of the post Cold War environment.

These changes led to Pope Air Force Base being transferred to the new Air Combat Command upon its activation on 1 June 1992. Also, the 317th TAW was blended into the new 23rd Wing on 1 June 1992 when the 23rd Fighter Wing at England Air Force Base Louisiana was transferred to Pope after England's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 1991 closing.

In April 1992, A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were transferred to the 75th Fighter Squadron from the 353d FS / 354th FW at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina prior to the wing's inactivation and the base's closure in January 1993. In June 1993, Block 40 F-16C/Ds were transferred to the 74th Fighter Squadron from the 347th FW at Moody and 388th FW at Hill.

Operational squadrons of the 23rd Wing at Pope were: (F-16C/D 15 June 1993 – 30 June 1996), (A/OA-10A 1 July 1996 – 1 April 1997) Ed Dooley was the first A-10 crew chief DCC for the 74th Fighter Squadron.
 * 317th Group
 * 2d Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (1 June 1992 – 1 April 1997)
 * 41st Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (16 July 1993 – 1 April 1997)
 * 23rd Group
 * 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron (15 June 1993 – 1 April 1997)
 * 75th Tactical Fighter (1 April 1992 – 1 April 1997) (A/OA-10A)

In December 1992, C-130s from the 2d Airlift Squadron deployed to Mombasa, Kenya, to participate in Operation PROVIDE RELIEF. The aircraft and crews delivered tons of food and other relief supplies to small airstrips throughout Somalia. 23rd Wing Flying Tiger C-130s were also tasked to assist in other humanitarian relief efforts, to include Hurricane Andrew in Florida. They also airdropped relief supplies into Bosnia-Herzogovina and flew relief missions into Sarajevo for more than 28 months.

On 23 March 1994 two 23rd Wing aircraft, an F-16 and a C-130, collided in the base's landing pattern. After the two crewmembers of the F-16 ejected from their damaged fighter, the unmanned aircraft crashed into an aircraft parking ramp and hit a C-141 transport aircraft parked on the ramp. The resulting fireball and flaming wreckage killed 24 United States Army paratroopers who were waiting nearby to load the transports and injured almost 100 more paratroopers in what is known as the Green Ramp disaster.

In May 1994, the deployed 41st Airlift Squadron led the evacuation, known as Operation Tiger Rescue, of U.S. personnel from Yemen.

In September 1994, 23rd Wing Flying Tiger C-130s participated in what was to be the largest combat personnel drop since World War II, Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. They were to assist in dropping more than 3,000 paratroopers from the 82d Airborne Division onto Port au Prince Airport, Haiti. The invasion force was recalled at the last minute after word that the Haitian president had resigned upon hearing that the aircraft were on their way. The 75th Fighter Squadron's A-10s were also involved in UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. The squadron deployed their aircraft to Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where they were scheduled to launch close air support operations for the invasion force before recovering in Puerto Rico.

The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. Within 72 hours, 56 aircraft and 1,500 people deployed to the Persian Gulf region for Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR. Eventually, the 75th Fighter Squadron redeployed to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, becoming the first U.S. fixed-wing aircraft to be stationed in that country since the end of the Gulf War.

On 1 July 1996, the 74th Fighter Squadron's F-16C/D Fighting Falcons were transferred to the 27FW / 524th FS at Cannon AFB New Mexico, and the squadron transitioned to A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs received from the 20FW / 55th FS at Shaw AFB South Carolina. This gave the 23rd Wing a 2nd A-10 squadron.

The 23rd Wing won its fifth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of 31 May 1995 through 31 March 1997.

43d Airlift Wing
On 1 April 1997, the 23rd Wing was inactivated and the C-130s and Pope Air Force Base were realigned to Air Mobility Command under the 43d Airlift Wing designation. The 43d Airlift Wing was designated as the host installation command.

On the same day, the 23rd Fighter Group was activated at Pope Air Force Base as a tenant unit aligned under the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC remaining in Air Combat Command. The 74th Fighter Squadron, 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Operations Support Squadron, and the 23rd Maintenance Squadron remained part of the group. Several of these planes provided the missing-man formation at the conclusion of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on 25 January 1998.

The 43d Airlift Wing performed en route operations support at Pope Field to include mission command & control, aircrew management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft loading, aircraft fueling and supply. The wing provided strategic, en-route airlift support and Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical airlift support to the Army's XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division. The wing traces its roots back to the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was constituted 20 November 1940, and activated 15 January 1941, at Langley Field, VA. It operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and later a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy-bomber unit assigned to Fifth Air Force. The 43rd Operations Group carries the lineage and history of its highly decorated World War II predecessor unit.

440th Airlift Wing
BRAC 2005 determined that the Air Force Reserve Command's 440th Airlift Wing and its C-130 aircraft were to be moved from Mitchell Field, Wisconsin to Pope. The wing started operations at Pope in 2006 and completed the move by October 2007. The first unit assembly at the new location was 1 October 2007. BRAC also made the 440th Airlift Wing the first active associate unit in Air Force history. The Regular Air Force's 2d Airlift Squadron and elements of the 43d Airlift Wing's maintenance units, that were also based at Pope, were receiving operational direction from the 440th while flying and helping maintain the C-130H2 Hercules Air Force Reserve aircraft. At the start of 2010, the 440th Airlift Wing had 16 C-130H models supporting worldwide missions and providing training missions for the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg.

The 440th was a United States Air Force Reserve unit that performed airfield operations to include airfield management, weather forecasting, airfield tower control, airfield navigation and landing systems' maintenance. The 440 AW's 95th Airlift Squadron shared the airlift mission with the 43d's 2d Airlift Squadron. The 440th also had the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron assigned which shared the AE mission with the 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

Despite opposition from North Carolina congressmen and senators, the 440th Airlift Wing was inactivated as an Air Force cost savings measure. An article in the 6 March 2014 issue of the Fayetteville Observer noted that the Air Force has proposed the wing's inactivation and the retirement of its 12 C-130H aircraft. A follow-up article in the 11 March edition stated that state congressmen (Ellmers, Hudson, Price, and McIntyre) had spoken out against the proposed inactivation.

The last C-130 assigned to the 440th Airlift Wing departed on 29 June 2016, and the unit inactivated on 18 September 2016.

Merger with Fort Bragg
In the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Plan, the Department of Defense started its plan to realign Pope AFB, NC. The Commission called for moving the 23rd Fighter Group's 36 A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthogs) to Moody AFB, Georgia and the 43rd Airlift Wing's 25 C-130E's to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas; established a Medical Squadron; activated an Air Force Group to provide mission execution, planning, and management of efficient load-out of Fort Bragg assets; and transferred Real Property accountability to the Army. The 2005 BRAC Law directed that the mandates be completed no later than 15 September 2011.

The 23rd Fighter Group rejoined the 23rd Wing in a ceremony held on 18 August 2006 at Pope. On 19 December 2007, the last three of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft left for Moody AFB.

On 1 March 2011, Pope Air Force Base was absorbed into Fort Bragg, becoming Pope Field.

Runway and airfield lighting system replacement
In 2019, degradation of Pope Field's runway and lighting system, many components of which were over 60 years old, became a major concern. From the fall of 2019 through spring of 2021, a major planning effort was undertaken to completely replace the runway and lighting system while continuing operations of units that rely on Pope Field at other locations. The runway was closed on 15 June 2021 to begin the $90 million construction. The project was completed ahead of schedule in approximately four months, opening on 14 October 2021 with the landing of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III crewed by elements of the 437th Airlift Wing (Joint Base Charleston, SC), and the 43d AMOG.

Inactivation of the 43d Air Base Squadron
On 8 July 2022, the 43d AMOG held a ceremony where it inactivated the 43d Air Base Squadron and activated both the 43d Force Support Squadron and the 43d Communications Squadron in its place.

Role and operations
The United States Army Fort Liberty Garrison is the host organization at Pope Field. The garrison provides airfield support, security, and protection to include emergency medical and fire response, aircraft security, and transient alert support. It also provides installation support and is responsible to execute the Inter-Service Support Agreement in providing support to United States Air Force (USAF) tenants to include services, facility maintenance, and morale, welfare and recreation support.

The United States Air Force 43d Airlift Group was activated at Pope on 1 March 2011, and later redesignated the 43d Air Mobility Operations Group (AMOG) in 2016. The unit performs en route operations support to include mission command and control, aircrew management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft loading, aircraft fueling and supply, air traffic control, and aircraft landing systems maintenance. Furthermore, the 43 AMOG coordinates and supports joint training exercises for Fort Liberty's XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division. Finally, the 43 AMOG is the lead Air Force unit responsible for rapid deployment coordination of the 82nd Airborne Division's Immediate Response Force (IRF).

In addition, the USAF 18th Air Support Operations Group, 427th Special Operations Squadron, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, and Air Force Combat Control School operate from Pope Field.

Based units
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Pope Field.

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Pope, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

United States Air Force
Air Mobility Command

 * US Air Force Expeditionary Center
 * 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group (GSU)
 * Headquarters 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group
 * 43rd Force Support Squadron
 * 43rd Communications Squadron
 * 43rd Air Mobility Squadron
 * 43rd Comptroller Squadron
 * 43rd Medical Squadron
 * 43rd Operations Support Squadron

Air Combat Command

 * Ninth Air Force
 * 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing
 * 18th Air Support Operations Group (GSU)
 * 14th Air Support Operations Squadron
 * 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron

Air Force Special Operations Command

 * 24th Special Operations Wing
 * 720th Special Tactics Group
 * 21st Special Tactics Squadron (GSU)
 * 724th Special Tactics Group (GSU)
 * 24th Special Tactics Squadron
 * 724th Intelligence Squadron
 * 724th Operations Support Squadron
 * 724th Special Tactics Support Squadron
 * 352nd Special Warfare Training Squadron / Combat Control School (GSU)
 * 427th Special Operations Squadron – various STOL aircraft

Other sources

 * Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
 * Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
 * USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers–1908 to present
 * Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
 * Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
 * USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers–1908 to present
 * USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers–1908 to present

title: Pope Field


text:
Lighter (disambiguation)

A lighter is a hand-held device for creating a flame.

Lighter can also be:
 * Lighter (barge), a type of flat-bottomed barge used to transfer goods to and from moored ships
 * Lightering, also called "lighterage", the process of transferring cargo between vessels of different sizes

Songs

 * "Lighter" (Nathan Dawe song), a 2020 song featuring KSI and uncredited vocals from Ella Henderson
 * "Lighter", a 2015 song by Miley Cyrus song from her album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz
 * "Lighters" (song), a 2011 song by Bad Meets Evil featuring Bruno Mars
 * "Lighter", a song by Miss Kittin from Radio Caroline Vol.1
 * "Lighters (The One)", a 2013 song by Gabz

title: Lighter (disambiguation)


text: Talk:Lighter (disambiguation)

title: Talk:Lighter (disambiguation)


text: Category:Incidental music

title: Category:Incidental music


text:
Lighter (barge)

A lighter is a type of flat-bottomed barge used to transfer goods and passengers to and from moored ships. Lighters were traditionally unpowered and were moved and steered using long oars called "sweeps" and the motive power of water currents. They were operated by skilled workers called lightermen and were a characteristic sight in London's docks until about the 1960s, when technological changes made this form of lightering largely redundant. Unpowered lighters continue to be moved by powered tugs, however, and lighters may also now themselves be powered. The term is also used in the Lighter Aboard Ship (LASH) system.

The name itself is of uncertain origin, but is believed to possibly derive from an old Dutch or German word, lichten (to lighten or unload). In Dutch, the word lichter is still used for smaller ships that take over goods from larger ships.

Lighters, albeit powered ones, were proposed to be used in 2007 at Port Lincoln and Whyalla in South Australia to load Capesize ships which are too big for the shallower waters close to shore.

Lighter tug
The lighter barge gave rise to the "lighter tug", a small, manoeuvrable type of harbour tug. Lighter tugs—or simply "lighters"—are designed for towing lighter barges. As such, they are smaller than traditional harbour tugs and lack the power or equipment to handle large ships.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong widely uses lighters in midstream operations where lighters transport cargo, mostly containers, between oceangoing vessels or to and from terminals. Lighters in Hong Kong are usually equipped with cranes of 40-60 tonnes capacity, and the largest ones can carry up to 300 TEU containers (empties). Lighters are usually not fitted with engines but are towed or pushed by tugboats. In 2007, midstream operators handled about 2 million TEUs and 5 million TEUs were transported as river trade cargo which are heavily dependent on lighters.

United Kingdom
In the UK, some older lighters have been converted into houseboats (for living on the river). As they lack engine rooms and gearbox, shaft or propellers, this means maximum usage of the hull space into housespace. As they have no propulsion methods, they are towed from conversion sites to permanent or semi-permanent mooring sites. They have macerators to deal with toilet waste.

title: Lighter (barge)


text:
Talk:Sed (disambiguation)

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia
In response to the reverting of an edit made on the 24th of May. "Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, acronym of an inhereted genetic bone disorder" was added to the list of SED acronyms. This condition is not entirely rare and is always reffered to as "SED". Why this entry was regarded Vandalism I don't know, as the author of the change does in face suffer from this condition.

Maybe it looks more like SDC than SED ?

SED 1888 hits

 * Spondylo epiphyseal dysplasia sed - Google Search finds 97 instances of 'SED'
 * Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita sed - Google Search finds 960 instances of 'SED'
 * Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia sed - Google Search finds 835 instances of 'SED'

SDC 42 hits
... and no, it wasn't I that deleted it. It's back. --195.137.93.171 16:11, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita sdc - Google Search finds 9 instances of 'SDC'
 * Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia sdc - Google Search finds 32 instances of 'SDC'
 * Spondylo epiphyseal dysplasia sdc - Google Search finds 1 instances of 'SDC'

SED, Sed & sed
Should't all 3 lead directly here ? All 3 do in the URL ... Only searching for SED does, not Sed or sed ! --195.137.93.171 17:06, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Non Angli sed angeli. --84.94.36.158 (talk) 13:52, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

=Suggestions= I would like to add Surface-conduction electron-emitter display often named SED displays. KaszpiR (talk) 09:30, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

title: Talk:Sed (disambiguation)


text:
18 (Moby album)

18 is the sixth studio album by American electronica musician, songwriter, and producer Moby. It was released on May 13, 2002, by Mute Records in the UK and on May 14, 2002, by V2 Records in the US. After the unexpected commercial and critical success of his previous album, Play (1999), Moby started to write songs for a follow-up during its supporting tour. He started work on the album at its conclusion in December 2000, using fewer samples than before. Guest vocalists include Azure Ray, MC Lyte, Angie Stone, and Sinéad O'Connor.

Following its release, 18 went to number one in 12 countries, including the UK, and reached number 4 in the US. The album went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide. 18 B Sides + DVD, a collection of the album's B-sides and live video footage, was released a year later.

Background
In December 2000, Moby finished his world tour in support of his previous studio album, Play (1999), which had lasted for 21 consecutive months. He wanted to start on a follow-up as soon as it was over, by which time he had already recorded ideas for some new songs. This process was under way in the spring of 2001, with Moby using a Power Macintosh G3 and G4 to write and record with Pro Tools. He felt no pressure in delivering an album that matched the commercial success of Play, but an "artistic pressure" to make a record that he and others could enjoy.

Prior to starting on 18, Moby had friends in New York City, Los Angeles, and London search through local record shops for albums that contained strong vocals that he could use to sample from and write songs based on them, a technique he had used for Play. He received several hundred and from them, clipped vocal lines, often two or three words long, that caught his interest. From there, he played different chords on his piano that suited the part to build an outline for a song. He then stored the records in his cabinets. Moby composed the album in batches, transferring songs onto a CD and sending them to his management and the A&R representative at V2 with labels such as "Moby Ideas 2, August 2001" or "Moby Demos 3". After 10 months Moby had sent 35 discs comprising over 140 songs, which promoted ideas of making 18 a triple album, but his friends and management advised against it. There were arguments between Moby and V2 over the use of vocal samples on 18, and V2 believed that a follow-up album that sounded like Play was going to attract criticism.

Moby named the album after the number of tracks that he put on it, and his fondness towards the idea of the title being easily translated and known as something different in other countries. He pointed out that there are some "really esoteric reasons" for the title, but did not mention them. On his website, Moby hinted that those who had visited Israel and are familiar with conspiracy theories regarding extraterrestrials may spot its significance. He said that Play and 18 were structured around the same motivation: "The desire to make compassionate records that meet a need in someone else's life."

By the time of the September 11 attacks in New York City, the album was almost recorded and finished. Following the incident, Moby made alterations to "Sleep Alone" as he found some of its lyrics "too prescient"; the line "Pieces of fire touch your hair" became "Pieces of light". Moby had written "Harbour" in 1984, at nineteen years of age; Sinéad O'Connor was surprised upon learning this, as she initially thought the song related to pre- and post-September 11 events. O'Connor was too afraid to fly to New York City to record her vocals at the time, so she used a studio in London.

Prior to the album's release, V2 Records avoided to send advance copies to soundtrack supervisors. As Play had gained momentum after it was licensed to television and film productions, the label did not rule out the possibility of licensing tracks from 18 but wanted to hold out from doing so until the official launch.

Critical reception
18 received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, writing that, "Moby not only creates a shimmering, reflective mood from the outset, but [that] he sustains it throughout the 18 songs, as the album shifts from pop and soul songs to soaring instrumental stretches letting the sound deepen and change colors with each new track."

Track listing
Sample credits
 * "Another Woman" contains samples of "I'm a Good Woman", written and performed by Barbara Lynn.
 * "Jam for the Ladies" contains samples of "Wherever You Are", written and performed by Mic Geronimo.
 * "Sunday (The Day Before My Birthday)" contains samples of "Sunday", written and performed by Sylvia Robinson.

Personnel
Credits are adapted from album liner notes.

Music

 * Moby – instruments, vocals on "We Are All Made of Stars", "Signs of Love", "Extreme Ways" and "Sleep Alone"
 * Azure Ray – vocals on "Great Escape"
 * Freedom Bremner – vocals on "At Least We Tried"
 * MC Lyte – vocals on "Jam for the Ladies"
 * Dianne McCaulley – vocals on "One of These Mornings"
 * Sinéad O'Connor – vocals on "Harbour"
 * Shauna Phillips – vocals on "The Rafters"
 * Lorraine Phillips – vocals on "The Rafters"
 * Jennifer Price – vocals on "In This World"
 * The Shining Light Gospel Choir – vocals on "In My Heart" and "I'm Not Worried at All"
 * Angie Stone – vocals on "Jam for the Ladies"

Production
 * Moby – production, engineering, mixing
 * Tony Dawsey – mastering
 * David Calderley – artwork, design
 * Danny Clinch – photography

title: 18 (Moby album)