Pursuit of Excellence If His Achievements at School and Flight Training Are Any Indication, Ty Millsap Has a Bright Future Ahead of Him As an Air Force Pilot

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Annual meeting notice Mark your calendars for the Daedalians annual membership meeting. The event, open to all members, is scheduled Friday, 11 May 2018, at the Parr Club at Randolph AFB, Texas, starting at 0930. Lunch will be served after the meeting. More information to follow.

Ty Millsap soloed at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, July 20. He attends the University of Texas at Arlington, and is with ROTC Detachment 845 at Texas Christian University. Pursuit of excellence If his achievements at school and flight training are any indication, Ty Millsap has a bright future ahead of him as an Air Force pilot.

Millsap was the recipient of a $2,500 Daedalian scholarship that was sponsored by the Airpower Foundation. Known as the Tuskegee Airman Red Tails Scholarship, the award is intended to encourage a student to pursue a career in military aviation. Millsap was nominated by his ROTC detachment commander, Lt Col Darin Gregg, and was selected by a panel of Dallas/Fort Worth Flight #23 Daedalians. Ty Millsap Millsap soloed at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, July 20, through the Daedalian Flying Training Scholarship sponsored by Laird Leavoy, in honor of his father, Lt Col Les Leavoy. Millsap is a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington, and is in the ROTC program at Detachment 845, Texas Christian University.

"Cadet Ty Millsap is an outstanding cadet with proven performance at Detachment 845," said his ROTC instructor, Capt David C. Schulwitz. "He has grown more than any other cadet in the unit when it comes to leadership style and ability. His consistent desire for excellence is tempered with the understanding that leading isn't about doing the best, it's about teaching others to do better. This quality is what earned him the Distinguished Graduate award from Field Training - Ty finished #1 of 19. As he has taken on leadership roles in the cadet wing, we have seen him take underperforming cadets and give them the tools necessary to succeed while always keeping expectations high."

Captain Schulwitz said the detachment has leaned on Ty to assist younger cadets both physically and mentally.

"While serving as the Physical Fitness Officer and the Flight Training Commander, he has been tough yet fair and while he expects the best performance from each of his cadets he is always ready and willing to spend the extra time to ensure they have every chance to succeed. This is one reason he was chosen as the field training preparation trainer, one of the most important positions in the cadet wing. While leading the cadet wing as Physical Fitness Officer, TCU finished No. 3 in the Southwest Region for average fitness test scores," the captain said.

One of the benefits of receiving a scholarship is it eases the burden of students who are trying to make it financially. Millsap has been paying his own way through college working at Cinnamon Creek Ranch Archery. His duties include sales, training new hires and technical work on archery equipment.

"Most cadets have only school and AFROTC to worry about," Captain Schulwitz said. "Ty added work to that list, and he crams in a lot of hours! He works at an archery shop and enjoys that. He even used those skills to help out in another way: He instructed 20-plus disabled vets on hunting with archery equipment; he dedicated 14 hours and bolstered esprit de corps amongst the vets."

Flight #23 Scholarship Chairman Tom Jobe said Millsap is scheduled to graduate and be commissioned in May of 2018 and has already been awarded a pilot training slot. His goal after pilot training is to get an aircraft that supports the personnel recovery role such as CV- 22, HH-60, HC-130 or A-10.

Captain Schulwitz said Millsap was selected for the highly competitive Phase II of the Air Force Combat Rescue Officer training evaluation program - only 30 men and women were selected Department of Defense-wide.

"Not only did Ty get selected for this, but he developed a training program back at our detachment to help other students who were also interested in this. He trained four," the captain said.

Flying is in their blood Another generation of the Ellis family has taken to the skies. Grant Ellis (above left) soloed July 4. He received his Daedalians jacket at the headquarters building in August. Grant was the recipient of a Daedalians Flying Training Scholarship through Stinson Flight #2. Standing behind Grant are his grandfather, retired Air Force Col Ron Ellis, who graduated from UFT in 1960, and his father, retired Air Force Lt Col Jeff Ellis, who graduated from UFT in 1983. Colonel Ron Ellis flew the C- 124 for three years and then volunteered for Vietnam, where he flew the AC-47 with the 1st Commando Squadron. After that he flew the T-37 and T-38, and had staff jobs at Tactical Air Command headquarters and Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Colonel Jeff Ellis flew the F-15C and the T-38, and was an instructor for both. Grant's great-grandfather, who flew B-25s in World War II, is shown in the inset photo. Grant is in the Air Force ROTC program at Texas Tech University.

Green and Gold Connect Day This year we celebrate our 2nd Annual Green and Gold Connect Day on Armistice Day (Veterans Day, Nov. 11). It is a day for Daedalians to meet up with other Daedalians and remember those who have gone before us. Want to connect with other Daedalians in your area? Send us your information and we'll do the research. Click here to get started. Send us your photos (or stories) of your Green and Gold Connect Day activities! We'll post the photos on our Virtual Flight page, and publish the stories in our newsletter or Daedalus Flyer.

The Maj Gen Clements McMullen Weapon Col Kent Mueller, commander of the 16th Logistics System Maintenance Award sits on the mantel Group, the year they won the McMullen Trophy. at the home of Col Kent Mueller. Heritage, award unite Mueller family

Father, son on winning teams for Maj Gen Clements McMullen Weapon System Maintenance Award a combined three times There's a common thread that runs through the family of retired Air Force Col Kent Mueller, with a combined hundred years of service to the Air Force.

Colonel Mueller's dad, Col Delbert L. Mueller, flew more than 400 Korean War combat missions as a 21st Troop Carrier Squadron C-54 command pilot. Later, he served as squadron maintenance officer in C-124 Globemaster IIs, and was the first pilot to achieve 1,000 hours of flying time in "Old Shakey." His leadership in maintenance ultimately included time as a deputy commander for maintenance in several wings.

Colonel Mueller's brother, Col Gary L. Mueller, is an MD, was a medical group commander twice, served as Headquarters Military Airlift Command Chief of Clinical Medicine, and was a flight surgeon with flying time in F-111s, KC-135s, HH-3s and the UH-1.

Colonel Mueller and his son, Maj Dave Mueller, are AFSOC special operators. Major Mueller is a third-generation Air Commando, his grandfather having served in the 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.

Both are maintainers and acquisition officers, between them having commanded at the group level, sortie-generating squadrons of MC, HC and C-130E, H and J models, Gunship A, Col Delbert L. Mueller, while a H, U and the new Whisky model, the F-16C/D Block 30, as well student at flight school. as MH-60G, and MH-53T, J and the M Model Pave Low IV. Major Mueller commanded the 727th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a CV-22/MQ-9 unit, and is now in command of the 374th AMXS at Yokota AB, Japan, operating from the same runway his grandfather did during the Korean War. He's a four-time combat vet deploying with the Air Force Special Operations Command iron three times, and in ground combat as a NATO ground-pounder.

The common thread extends to some of their awards, too -- in particular, the Maj Gen Clements McMullen Weapon System Maintenance Award. The Daedalian trophy is presented annually to a wing-level Air Force unit determined by Headquarters Air Force to have the best weapon system maintenance record for the preceding calendar year.

Colonel Mueller was commander of the 16th Logistics Group at Hurlburt Field, Florida, when they won the award in 1999. Major Mueller was a member of two winning units - the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group at Hurlburt in 2007, and the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, in 2015.

The McMullen Trophy meant so much to Colonel Mueller, he decided to have his own copy cast to bear the brass from not only his group's award but the awards won by his son's units. Thanks to the Daedalians' approval, that copy now occupies a place of honor on the mantel at Colonel Mueller's home.

"I had the good fortune to command the Air Force's biggest aviation group, the 16th Logistics Group, AFSOC, from 1998 to 2000 when we were in the fight in the Balkans. Ten squadrons, about 200 special ops aircraft, 3,480 troops. Besides being the biggest, we won the McMullen in 1999. Needless to say, it remains a career highlight," Colonel Mueller said, adding, "Thanks to Maureen DeFelice for supporting my request to get the trophy made."

"I can't thank [the Daedalians] enough for allowing me, and family, to have this priceless symbol of achievement. I see the faces of my troops when I look at it ... their timeless devotion to excellence and courage in the face of desperate missions. It's a constant reminder of the blood sweat and tears we put into ensuring our aircrew could get to the fight, win, and get home!"

Then and now LEFT: A young Dave Mueller, at the time his father commanded the 463rd Aircraft Generation Squadron in Desert Storm. Now-Maj Dave Mueller is commander of the AMXS C-130J squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Some of the retiring H models that are in his squadron at Yokota were the same aircraft he "played" on when his father was at Dyess AFB, Texas. ABOVE: Then-Capt Dave Mueller in front of an AC- 130W.

The late Col George "Bud" Day (seated) is shown with, from left, fellow Daedalians Col John Streit (a Korean War POW), Col Ron Webb (a Vietnam POW) and 2012-13 Flight Captain Col Charlie Heifner. Colonel Day was the honorary flight captain for Flight 61. George "Bud" Day Flight 61 After our August newsletter hit your inboxes last month, we received an email from retired Air Force Col Jim Wolff, membership chairman of the George "Bud" Day Flight 61 based in Niceville, Florida. One of our August trivia questions had dealt with the aircraft then-Major Day flew when he was shot down over Vietnam and taken prisoner of war. Colonel Wolff wrote that he wished we had included the fact that Flight 61 was named after Colonel Day. We agree! The following information is from the National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinee ceremony in 2016:

"In 1967, Colonel Day volunteered for a tour in Vietnam. After serving as an F-100 assistant operations officer at Tuy Hoa Air Base, he was reassigned to become the first commander of the Misty Super FACs at Phu Cat Air Base. By August, he had flown 67 missions into North Vietnam. On a mission to eliminate a surface-to-air missile site, the North Vietnamese shot down his plane. During his ejection, he suffered three breaks in his right arm and dislocated his left knee. He was captured by the North Vietnamese but after a few days he managed to escape, heading south. Two weeks later Bud was recaptured near Quang Tri City, and spent the next five and a half years in the worst prison camps in North Vietnam. By the time of his release on March 14, 1973, he had survived 2,028 days as a prisoner of war."

Flight 61 was chartered in April 1979 as Seagull Flight. The name was changed in honor of Colonel Day, the honorary flight captain. Below you'll see the proclamation renaming Flight 61 after Colonel Day on Dec. 18, 2012.

Air Camp Each year, the Daedalians headquarters, along with Frank P. Lahm Flight #9, support Air Camp, an aviation summer camp in Dayton, Ohio. The core values of Air Camp -- scholarship, leadership and citizenship -- are embodied in its intensive schedule and unique curriculum that puts science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the context of aviation and aeronautics. The Daedalians are proud to support Air Camp, which falls directly in line with our vision: We will inspire tomorrow's military aviators to selflessly serve the nation.

Nov. 4-5, 2017

2017 Joint Base San Antonio Air Show and Open House JBSA-Lackland Kelly Field Annex

Featuring: **The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Air Force's premier demonstration team **"Tora, Tora, Tora" -- The Commemorative Air Force's recreation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Designed as a living history lesson, "Tora, Tora, Tora" is intended as a memorial to all the service members on both sides who gave their lives for their countries.

Come see us at the Daedalian booth!

2017 Combined Federal Campaign Be sure and select #11457! The Daedalian Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Order of Daedalians, which was formed to honor our Founding Members who flew in defense of our nation. Our membership reflects the honor and pride of our country's military aviators who risked everything to defend this nation. The Legacy Program allows donations from endowments to continue scholarships and the Daedalian Flying Training Program which carries that same great history. A 501(c)(3) foundation, the main purpose of the organization is to provide encouragement for young men and women to become military pilots. Each year the Daedalian Foundation gives thousands of dollars to students with a military aviation future. We support matching scholarships and grants for Civil Air Patrol, high school JROTC, college ROTC and all five armed services. Your gift to the Daedalian Foundation is much more than a monetary donation; it will help shape the future of military aviation. Your choice shows a commitment to our rich traditions and military success and is a way to help make dreams come true. We are grateful for your generosity.

The National Aviation Hall of Fame presents The 55th Annual Enshrinement

Join the National Aviation Hall of Fame as they host more than a dozen enshrinees, aviation enthusiasts, industry leaders, pilots and aviators, engineers and scientists, astronauts and inventors, NAHF members and supporters in witnessing history as four more heroes are inducted into the only Congressionally chartered aviation hall of fame in America.

Inductees: Daedalians M. Scott Carpenter and Robert J. Gilliland, and Sir Frank Whittle and Charles Bolden

When: Saturday, Oct. 28 Where: Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas More information on the enshrinement ceremony and the Alliance Airshow can be found at http://www.nationalaviation.org/ http://www.nationalaviation.org/purchase-enshrinement-seats/

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-- Paid Advertisement -- Oswald Boelcke Germany's First Fighter Ace and Father of Air Combat By RG Head Brig. Gen., USAF, Retired, Daedalian 1875 Only 300 left! A Daedalians Exclusive -- $35, signed by author and free postage Read more about the book and find the order form here!

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September Trivia!

Let's see how you do with this month's set of trivia questions! If you have some fun facts you'd like to add to next month's newsletter, send them our way by Sept. 28.

1. Wilbur Wright completed the first circular flight at ______, near which city and state on Sept. 20, 1904?

2. Flying over Mitchel Field, New York, ______made the first instruments only flight, from takeoff to landing, on Sept. 24, 1929.

3. The Department of the Air Force was established on Sept. 18, 1947, as a result of which major military restructuring?

4. ______took his oath as the first secretary of the Air Force on Sept. 18, 1947, and President Harry S. Truman named ______as the first U.S. Air Force chief of staff on Sept. 25, 1947.

5. The first of two groups of 10 women pilot candidates entered undergraduate pilot training at ______Air Force Base on Sept. 29,1976.

Answers can be found on last page.

Reunions

Air Force Officer Candidate School Reunion, Classes 1943-1963 Oct. 5-9, 2017 Seattle, Washington POC: Dave Mason 757-820-3740 or [email protected]

86th Fighter Bomber Group WWII Association Oct. 11-15, 2017 Fort Walton Beach, Florida POC: Dallas Lowe 850-319-3047 or [email protected]

Air Rescue Association (ARA) Oct. 18-21, 2017 Melbourne, Florida POC: Walt Hines 334-272-7927 or [email protected]

USS Leary DD 879 Oct. 22-26, 2017 Branson, Missouri POC: Al Redden 308-530-1284 or [email protected]

12 TFW / 389 TFS / 480 TFS / 555 TFS / 12 FEW/SFW MacDill AFB, Florida; Cam Ranh AF, Phu Cat AB, and Da Nang, Vietnam; Bergstrom AFB, Texas; and Korea April 4-7, 2018 Tucson, Arizona POC: EJ Sherwood 480-396-4681 or [email protected]

Online shopping with a Smile

You can support the Daedalians while shopping Amazon and it won't cost you anything extra. AmazonSmile is a program where Amazon donates to your favorite charities. You don't need a separate login to use it, either. Simply go to AmazonSmile and select Daedalian Foundation from the charity list. Every time you place an order, Amazon will donate a portion of the sales back to the Foundation. It doesn't get much easier than that.

Learn more about AmazonSmile

THANK YOU SPONSORS

September Trivia Answers

1. Huffman Prairie near Dayton, Ohio. The Wrights began using Huffman Prairie in 1904 with the permission of the field's owner, Dayton banker Torrence Huffman. The Wrights made about 150 flights at the field in 1904-1905, leading to development of the 1905 Wright Flyer III, which they considered to be the first practical airplane. This aircraft has been restored, and is now displayed at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton.

2. Lt. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle. He flew a Consolidated NY-2 airplane with a completely covered cockpit, accompanied by a check pilot who monitored the flight.

3. The National Security Act, signed by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947. It also created the Department of Defense and established the National Security Council.

4. W. Stuart Symington, the first Secretary of the Air Force, was a four-term Missouri senator who ran for president in 1956 and 1960. He died in 1988 at the age of 87. The first Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, served with the First Aero Squadron under Gen. John J. Pershing in the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. He was a Daedalian Founder Member, #309. He died in 1974 at the age of 83, and is interred at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

5. Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. It was the first time since World War II that women could train to become pilots of U.S. military aircraft. Daedalians 210-945-2111 [email protected] http://www.daedalians.org