Daedalians
Sponsor Website
Sponsor Description
Established in 1934 by a group of 35 WWI pilots, the Order of Daedalians is America’s premier military aviation fraternity. Those Founders sought to honor and perpetuate their legacy of patriotism and self-sacrifice as the first to fly in time of war. We steward this heritage by honoring all 14,167 identified WWI aviators as our Founder Members. Our Named Members preserve their stories, carrying their names forward into successive cohorts of military aviators as inheritors of their legacy.
Today, commissioned and warrant officers who are rated military aviators across branches and generations make up our membership. We welcome those who have earned their wings in the following categories across all military services and platforms: fixed wing, rotary, and RPA pilots, navigators, CSO/WSO/EWOs, NFOs, ABMs, flight surgeons, astronauts, and WASPs. We welcome flyers from all eras and lengths of service.
Two special categories of membership enrich our organization and make us unique. Hereditary membership is open to direct descendants of any of our Founder Members, connecting us with our lineage. Honorary membership is open to fifteen living individuals at any time who are otherwise ineligible for membership but are nominated for their outstanding contributions to aviation, aerospace, or airpower.
Our sixty active flights, or chapters, across the country bring together Daedalian members to enjoy fellowship and celebrate our legacy, connecting with flying units and aviation partners in their geographic area. They help execute our national programs including scholarships, awards, flight training, and preservation. Flights customize their outreach and partnership to support military aviators across America’s flying communities. They also engage with and empower the next generation of young Americans in their local communities to pursue careers in aviation & aerospace. Our national, virtual flight, The Hangar connects nearly 500 members across the country with the Daedalian community and our mission through digital programming & outreach.
Industry Category
- Pilots and Aircraft Owners
- Military
Active Scholarships
- Brigadier General Kenneth F. Keller Memorial Scholarship (National Level)
- Captain John F. S. Graziano Memorial Award & Scholarship (National Level)
- Col Meyers/CW3 Cargen Army Aviation Scholarship (National Level)
- Colonel John D. Hedges Memorial Scholarship (National Level)
- Daedalian Foundation Sponsored Scholarship (National Level)
- Descendant Scholarship (National Level)
- Flight 18 Endowment (Flight Level)
- John and Alice Egan Multi-Year Mentoring (Flight Level)
- Lieutenant Colonel Edwin L. Curtiss Academic Scholarship (National Level)
- Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Johnston Piercy Memorial Scholarship (National Level)
- Lieutenant Colonel Joe and Candace Burch Scholarship (National Level)
- Lieutenant Colonel Kent W. Lattig Scholarship (National Level)
- Lieutenant Colonel Paul and Deana Bridges Class 71-02 “Snake Eyes” Scholarship (National Level)
- Major Marius Burke Memorial Scholarship (National Level)
- Old Pueblo Flight Roy and Marieanne Feher Memorial Endowment (Flight Level)
- Will Hendrix Memorial Scholarship (National Level)