History

Order of Daedalians

America’s premier fraternal organization of military pilots

YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LEGEND OF DAEDALUS AND ICARUS - THEIR ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND OF CRETE BY FABRICATING WINGS OF FEATHERS, WAX AND STRING. DAEDALUS FLEW SAFELY WHILE ICARUS, DISREGARDING THE ADMONISHMENT OF HIS FATHER, FLEW TOO HIGH. NEAR THE SUN, THE WAX OF HIS WINGS MELTED, AND HE FELL INTO THE SEA THAT NOW BEARS HIS NAME. POSSIBLY YOU ARE LESS FAMILIAR WITH THE GENESIS OF THE ORDER WHICH HAS TAKEN ITS NAME FROM THE SUCCESSFUL LEGENDARY GREEK FLYER.

THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS WAS FOUNDED AT A TIME NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM TODAY WITH RESPECT TO SOCIAL UNREST AND THE POWER STRUGGLES BETWEEN NATIONS OF THIS EARTH.

IN OCTOBER 1933, A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF CAREER OFFICERS IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, STATIONED AT MAXWELL FIELD, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, CONSOLIDATED THE IDEAS WHICH HAD LONG BEEN DEVELOPING WITH REGARD TO THE FORMATION OF A FRATERNITY OF MILITARY PILOTS. ON MARCH 26, 1934, THERE WAS FORMALLY INSTITUTED THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS, COMPOSED OF THOSE WHO, NO LATER THAN THE ARMISTICE OF 1918, HELD RATINGS OF PILOTS OF HEAVIER-THAN-AIR POWERED AIRCRAFT.

THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS WAS CONSTITUTED AS A MILITARY FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION, MEMBERSHIP BEING FULLY CONSUMMATED BY GIVING "THE PROMISE OF A DAEDALIAN." CONSIDER THE PREAMBLE TO THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION AND STILL THE PREAMBLE TO OUR PRESENT BYLAWS WHICH SAYS:

 "WE, A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF AMERICAN WORLD WAR I PILOTS, NOW COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE AIR CORPS, UNITED STATES ARMY, IN FULL REALIZATION OF THE CONSTANT LESSENING OF OUR NUMBERS DUE TO THE CONTINUED HAZARDS OF OUR CALLING AND THE ADVANCE OF YEARS; AND IN ORDER TO PERPETUATE THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM, THE LOVE OF COUNTRY, THE MEMORIES, SAD AND PLEASANT, OF OUR SERVICE DURING THAT PERIOD, AND THE HIGH IDEALS OF SELF SACRIFICE WHICH PLACED SERVICE TO THE NATION ABOVE PERSONAL SAFETY OR POSITION; AND TO FURTHER CEMENT THE TIES OF COMRADESHIP WHICH BOUND US TOGETHER AT THAT CRITICAL HOUR OF OUR NATION'S NEED, DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH, WHILE INVOKING THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD, THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS."

Tenets of The Order of Daedalians

                First:      To place nation above self.

                Second:  To be worthy of the trust and confidence of fellow Daedalians

Volabamus (We flew)                        Valamus (We fly)