The Order of Daedalians honors, as its Founder Members, all WW I aviators who were commissioned as officers and rated as military pilots no later than the Armistice on 11 November 1918. It perpetuates their names as the first to fly our country's airplanes in time of war. The Order's membership of commissioned, warrant and flight officer military pilots and WASPs, with its worldwide network of Daedalian Flights and its comprehensive awards program, supports the military services and other aerospace activities. The Awards and Scholarship Programs of the Order and Foundation encourage patriotism, integrity, and good character in our nation's youth; military careers as commissioned pilots; safety of flight, and excellence in the performance of military duties. The Daedalian Foundation's scholarship program also promotes study in aerospace disciplines.
A BRIEF STORY
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.
