The Mile High Flight 18

This annual award is intended to recognize the performance and achievements of one of the fighter pilots assigned to the Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Fighter Wing at Buckley AFB. Each year the 140th Wing Commander is invited to nominate one of his pilots for the award for the preceding year. His nomination then goes to the Flight 18 officer staff for approval. Selection criteria are airmanship, leadership (or leadership potential) and personal character. The first Distinguished Pilot Award was presented to Lt Col Michael A. Loh in 2004 for CY 2003. Subsequent recipients were Maj Floyd W. Dunstan and LtCol Mitch Neff. Nominations for CY 2006 and 2007 are pending.

The selected Distinguished Pilot receives a formal letter and award citation endorsed by the Governor, a framed DPA certificate, an information packet about The Order of Daedalians and Mile High Flight 18 and a crystal eagle trophy. He is also invited to join the Order of Daedalians and Flight 18. Should he choose to do so, his first-year's national and flight dues are paid for by the Flight.

Meanwhile, Mile High Flight is currently in the process of constructing a Daedalian display case for permanent placement in the 120th Fighter Squadron foyer. The case will contain a duplicate of the crystal eagle trophy given to the award recipient plus Daedalian-related backdrop materials including artwork and a history of The Order.  This display should be ready for placement sometime in 2008. Below are thumbnails of an artist's rendition of the the case itself, the trophy and backdrop materials. (Click on each to enlarge.)

The display case

Approximate dimensions:  69" high by 31" wide by 26" deep.

Backdrop items (all 11" by 17"):

 Name of display, "Daedalus Ascending" artwork*** and History of the OOD.

(To view a readable version of the History of the OOD, click here.)  

Crystal eagle DPA trophy  

  *** A note about the "Daedalus Ascending" artwork.  This is a compilation of portions of two different high-resolution photos. The background is a photo of sun, sea and clouds obtained from NOAA. The bronze winged figure in the foreground is Daedalus, taken from a photo of the new Daedalian Memorial at Wright-Patterson AFB. The memorial photo was arranged for and provided by retired MGen Ray Moorman, Ohio ANG, of Flight 9 at Wright-Patt.  Our thanks for his invaluable contribution.   

Plans

Overall diagram

Construction plan A

Construction plan B