John Clemans Flanagan was born. A pioneering behavioral scientist and profoundly influential figure within the field of aviation psychology, Flanagan developed a groundbreaking pilot selection, testing and training program on behalf of the U.S Army Air Corps during the Second World War. Following the end of the war, Flanagan became professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh during which time he founded the American Institutes for Research where he developed the "critical incident technique;" described by the Annual Review of Psychology as one of the "most important personnel selection milestones of the past 60 years."

Among the many honors bestowed on Flanagan, he was awarded the Legion of Merit by the Army Air Corps and received the American Psychological Association Distinguished Professional Contribution Award in 1976.