Please note, this is the FEBRUARY 2021 AVIATOR.
As many of you are aware, Texas experienced a severe weather event in February. This caused operational disruption, forcing publication delays and adjustments throughout the last several weeks. We have decided to go ahead with late publication of the February Aviator to honor the month's scholarship recipients and share the specialized content for Black History Month that we felt, in light of current events, is essential reading. Thank you for your continued support!
|
|
VOLABAMUS VOLAMUS | February 2021
|
|
TOMORROW'S MILITARY AVIATORS
|
|
|
Matching Scholarships
The Daedalian Foundation matches up to $2,000 in Flight scholarship awards, and then adds another $1,000. Thus, $3,000 is the maximum total that the Foundation awards per flight. When a flight awards multiple scholarships, the Foundation's matching, up to $3,000, is done in accordance with flight instructions.
|
|
|
Cadet Joshua Broertjes, AROTC
|
Senior, Fayetteville State University
Harley H. Pope Flight 48 Matching Scholarship
Flight $1,500. Foundation $1,500.
Major: History
Top 10% nationally for Army ROTC and Distinguished Military Graduate. Selected for commissioning as an Army Aviator in 2021.
Career Goal: CDT Broertjes plans to be a career military officer and serve as a Field Grade Officer in Army Aviation leading aviation units. He plans to attend flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama and pursue a career on Army Aviation as a UH-60 Blackhawk Aviator. CDT Broertjes is considering assessing for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment once he is a proficient aviator.
|
|
|
|
MIDN Avree Anderson, NROTC
|
Senior, University of Arizona
Old Pueblo Flight 12 Matching Scholarship
Flight $1,000. Foundation $1,000.
Major: Systems Engineering
Midshipman of the month –October 2019. Private pilot -46 hours. 20-24 hours/week as an on-campus Computer lab consultant. Bi-weekly volunteer with pre-school-age kids at home church in Tucson.
Career Goal: “My goal is to become a US Navy pilot. I do not have a strong preference yet, but I would like to possibly fly the V-22, F/A-18, or F-35. I understand that the needs of the Navy will prevail over any choice I make about my future military aviation career. I will be very happy if I get the chance to fly any form of Navy aircraft and lead U.S. Navy sailors. Ideally, I will serve a full military career but I know some factors might change that goal over time.”
|
|
|
|
MIDN Michael Alpert, NROTC
|
Senior, University of Arizona
Old Pueblo Flight 12 Matching Scholarship
Flight $1,000. Foundation $1,000.
Major: Criminal Justice
NROTC Flight Commander. BMT Honor Graduate Award. Avionics Fundamentals Class Distinguished Graduate Award. Highest Academic Distinction. Deans List with Distinction.
Career Goal: “My career goal is to attend UPT pilot training after graduating from college and commissioning as an officer. While waiting to attend UPT, I aim to get more experience in the cockpit and possibly work toward a Private Pilot License so as to be better prepared for the rigorous training.”
|
|
|
|
Cadet Quinn Richards, AROTC
|
Senior, University of Arizona
Old Pueblo Flight 12 Matching Scholarship
Flight $1,000. Foundation $1,000.
Major: Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, Law
Minor: Business Administration
Private pilot -78 hours. Philanthrophy Chair of the Theta Chi Fraternity, leading fundraising effort that raised the most money of all University of Arizona Fraternities.
Career Goal: “My career goal is to fly for the National Guard and become a Battalion Commander within 20 years. I'd like to transition my passion of Aviation to the civilian world and fly for a major US airline as well as use my experiences in the Army and commercial aviation to mentor students.”
|
|
|
We're proud to highlight these scholarship recipients who are pursuing careers
as military aviators. If you would like to offer them career advice or words of encouragement,
|
|
Enjoy reading? Want to contribute to our organization? Help us preserve aviation heritage, promote airpower, and support the future of military aviation today.
|
|
|
|
It's that time of year!!! Mustache March is here. In honor of the legendary Gen. Robin Olds, Daedalian Member Number 825, and his signature handlebar mustache, we're having a little competition for our members. We invite all members who are participating in this year's event to share their most iconic mustache photos with us. We will rate and review them, announcing the winner in our March Aviator newsletter. Photo submissions must be made by March 29, 2021.
|
|
|
COMMUNICATIONS CONTENT SURVEY
The HQ Comms Team is working on our content planning for the rest of the year. We'd like to hear from you about what you want to see! Please participate in the brief survey below:
|
|
Which of the following are you most likely to read?
|
Current topics in military aviation
|
|
|
Historical and heritage pieces
|
|
|
Daedalian programs news and updates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A handful of flights have been able to keep members engaged and programming going through virtual meetings. Access to resources and the HQ Zoom account is available for those interested in hosting virtual meetings in their own flights. Thank you to Flights 48 and 56 for opening their meetings to all Daedalians. We love to see Flights connecting across the country. We are also encouraging recording meetings when possible so we can share the great work you all are doing with the organization! For more information, please contact [email protected].
|
|
|
|
At the Daedalians Board Meeting held Friday, February 26, 2021, we officially transitioned leadership for the Order of Daedalians and the Daedalian Foundation. The position of National Commander of the Order of Daedalians transferred from Lt. Gen. Nick Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) to Maj. Gen. Jerry Allen, USAF (Ret.). The position of Chairman of the Daedalian Foundation transferred from Maj. Gen. Jerry Allen, USAF (Ret.) to Brig. Gen. Chad Manske USAF, (Ret.), pictured left. We look forward to the year ahead.
Thank you Gen. Kehoe for your leadership and service!
|
|
|
The Daedalian Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved a funding change for DFT 2021 only. If a flight sponsors one student, the Foundation will reimburse 75% of the ground and flight training costs, 65% for two students, and 50% for three. Flight physicals, training materials, awards, etc., are not included in the reimbursement. As of now, we are planning to have a DFT program this summer. Flights are making their student selections and we will press on as long as we can do so safely.
|
|
|
We are excited to announce three new named scholarship opportunities for future military aviators. These opportunities include the Lt. Col. Edwin L. Curtiss Scholarship, the Lt. Col. Joe and Candice Burch Scholarship, and the Lt. Col. Kent W. Lattig Scholarship. All three scholarships are open to those with a strong interest in military aviation, good academic performance, and notable leadership skills. Thank you to these members for their generosity!
|
|
|
If you’re interested in learning more about the organization or helping to sustain its mission, please click here for additional information.
|
|
F.L.I.G.H.T. Foundation Continues to Soar
|
The pandemic year of 2020 posed challenges for many non-profit organizations, but for Lt. Col. Bill Powley, USAF (Ret.), Daedalian Life Member and his student aviation program, the year has proved as noteworthy as ever. F.L.I.G.H.T., or Flight Lesson Instructional Grants Helping Teens, is entering its 30th year on the wings of continued success.
Initially conceived as a recruitment tool to attract students to his Junior ROTC program, Powley first brought the aerospace education program to Unicoi County, Tennessee in 1992 while serving as the Air Force JROTC instructor at the local high school. The program eventually expanded to Sullivan County schools in 2001. Building on the initial success in local classrooms, a non-profit chartered foundation was eventually formed.
|
|
|
The Challenger Air Pilots' Association
|
While many of us are familiar with the storied history of the Tuskegee Airmen, the contributions of Black Aviators who paved the way for those pilots and eventual racial integration of the military are less well-known. In 1925, the Army commissioned a report called The Use of Negro Manpower in War stated that Blacks did not possess the intelligence required to fly or participate in any profession where "mental equipment was required for success". As Black History month draws to a close, we want to highlight the contributions of the heroic, talented group of pilots who came together to fly and instruct and develop other airmen, but also built their own airplanes, a Black-owned airport, a school for African-American pilot training, and eventually the curriculum, programs, and public affairs campaigns that were required for the "experiment" that would be the Tuskegee Flight Training Program to exist. From that program came the legendary African-American flying squadrons that laid the foundations for a future integrated military and the inclusive, equitable force we are working towards today. The curation of articles and pieces below serves as a brief history of these amazing aviators.
|
|
|
|
Chicago: Center of Black Aviation
|
After starting out as auto mechanics, Cornelius Coffey and John Robinson wanted to fly. No school would take them due to their race, so they taught themselves. They later teamed up at Chicago's Curtiss-Wright School of Aviation, where they forced integration after being denied inclusion in their aviation mechanics course by demonstrating talent and skill in building aircraft engines. In 1931, they joined forces with other black aviation enthusiasts to form the Challenger Air Pilots' Association. Collectively, members purchased a piece of land and built an airstrip for use by Black aviators and flying students. From those beginnings, a flight instruction school open to people of color and women came into being. This would become the foundation for the eventual Tuskegee Institute.
|
|
|
Pioneering Women Pilots and Advocates
|
Aspiring African-American women pilots were welcomed as members of the Challenger Air Pilots' Association. Women such as Willa Brown, Janet Bragg, and Mildred Carter became accomplished pilots, but also proved essential to advancing the mission and operational capacity of the Association, and eventually, of the Tuskegee Institute. In addition to their own flying, they served as instructors for other aspiring Black pilots, supported the construction of the airfield, organized the first all-black airshow, lent personal planes for flight training, and organized robust public affairs efforts to promote their activities and the accomplishments of their pilots. Several applied to be WASPs but were turned down on the basis of race in spite of their qualifications. In spite of this obstacle, some of them went on to serve in various non-flying roles alongside the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII.
|
|
|
|
|
Proving Their Skills Abroad
|
Unable to serve in their own country due to racial discrimination, Black aviators took advantage of opportunities offered by other nations, including Ethiopia. Several of the founding members of the Challenger Air Pilots' Association went abroad to combat fascism, even as they faced lack of opportunities and equity at home. While not permitted to serve as military aviators in the States, Black aviators received acclaim for their accomplishments against common enemies overseas. Their success abroad helped open minds to the potential for Black training programs to take root in the United States leading into WWII.
|
|
|
The Tuskegee Institute & the First Lady
|
In 1939, Public Law 18 expanded the Army Air Corps and included a provision that opened the pathway to military aviation for Blacks. In 1941, the first all-Black flying program, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, was approved. Training was set to take place at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. While the military had white officers serve as instructors, they also relied on Black civilian instructors, most of whom were Challenger Air Pilot Association members. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt's visit marked the initiation of the pilot program, and her willingness to fly with a Black pilot was a vote of confidence in the expertise of African-American aviators.
|
The Tuskegee Airmen would eventually become among the most celebrated and decorated aviation units of WWII. Their prowess and achievements were essential to the eventual racial integration of the military. As we reflect on their accomplishments, a critical part of our aviation heritage, it's important to remember that less than one hundred years ago, official military reports stated that Blacks would never be capable of flight. We celebrate the contributions of the aviation pioneers who formed the Challenger Air Pilots' Association, paving the path to progress, even as we acknowledge the work left to complete.
|
|
|
Additional Resources
Below are several topical resources with additional background and historical information on the Tuskegee Airmen. The National Park Service, in particular, has done fantastic work on documenting this history as part of their effort to maintain and educate through the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Site in Tuskegee, Alabama. As there is still work to do, we have also included the Department of Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion report published in December 2020. It included ongoing recommendations to promote racial equity in the U.S. Military.
|
|
Thank you to all our readers and members for your patience with our newsletter this month! For a little fun, enjoy some pictures of the HQ staff dogs out in the snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|