The Order of
Daedalians had its genesis in 1921 when
Brigadier General William
"Billy" Mitchell, Assistant Chief of the Army Air Service, urged the
creation of an organization that would perpetuate forever the deeds and
memories of the first American pilots who, in W.W. I, were the first to
fly our country's airplanes in time of war. Present to hear General
Mitchell was then Lieutenant Harold L. George who, 13 years later, on 26
March 1934, at Maxwell Field, Alabama, as one of 35 W.W. I Regular Army
commissioned pilots, formally established the Order of Daedalians to
"... perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, the
memories, sad and pleasant, of our service during that period (W.W.I)
and to further cement the ties of comradeship which bound us together in
that critical hour of our nation's need...."
There were
over 14,000 W. W. I aviators who were commissioned as officers and rated
as military pilots no later than the Armistice on 11 November 1918.
Virtually all have been identified, and each, whether living or dead,
has a founder Membership in the Order of Daedalians even though some did
not, during their lifetime, participate as active members. In the early
years active membership was open only to Founder Members and their
descendants (Hereditary Members.) In the early fifties Named Memberships
were authorized for active or retired commissioned officers in the
military services and their reserve components who are rated as military
pilots of heavier-than-air powered aircraft. Named, as well as
Hereditary Members are assigned to perpetuate the Founder Memberships of
W.W. I military pilots, thereby insuring perpetuity for the Order of
Daedalians. A qualified applicant interested in membership must be
nominated by an active Daedalian and the application, endorsed by three
other active Daedalians, must then be sent to National Headquarters for
approval.
In 1959 the
Order of Daedalians established the Daedalian Foundation to conduct
educational, scientific and charitable activities in support of the
Order's Tenets and Objectives. The Foundation is an IRS tax-exempt
501(C) (3) organization that relies on contributions,donations and
bequests from the Daedalian membership to fund a comprehensive and
varied scholarship program. The Foundation also publishes the
Daedalus Flyer, the official journal of the Order of Daedalians.
In 2001,
membership criteria were changed to authorize memberships for
ex-commissioned officers whether or not they retired, and for all Flight
officers and warrant officers who held ratings as military pilots of
heavier-than-air powered aircraft.
In 2002
membership criteria were again changed to authorize memberships for
WASP.
