Daedalus Winter 2018 flyer We are... The Daedalians honor, as its Founder Members, all WWI aviators who were commissioned as officers and rated as military pilots. This issue is dedicated to the men and women whoDaedalians proudly call themselves Daedalians. This is...Who We Are CONTENTS Winter 2018, Vol. LVIII No. 3 Departments Who We Are 04 06 Commander’s Perspective Three Generations of Daedalians Hereditary Member 05 Executive Director 08 Profound Impact 13 Navigator Reunions 10 20-22 My Tour as an Air Force Aviator Book Reviews Flight Surgeon 24-27 12 Awards Mary Jean Sturdevant 34-49 WASP Flightline 14 50 Living My Dream In Memoriam Pilot 52 15 Eagle Wing MQ-1/9 RPA Operations RPA Pilot 54 New/Rejoining Daedalians 55 Flight Contacts THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS was organized on Mar. 26, 1934, by a representative group of American World War I pilots to perpetuate the spirit of patrio- tism, the love of country, and the high ideals of sacrifice which place service to nation above personal safety or position. The Order is dedicated to: insuring that America will always be preeminent in air and space—the encouragement of flight safety—fostering an esprit de corps in the military air forces—promoting the adoption of military service as a career—and aiding deserving young individuals in specialized higher education through the establishment of scholarships. THE DAEDALIAN FOUNDATION was incorporated in 1959 as a non-profit organization to carry on activities in furtherance of the ideals and purposes of the Order. The Foundation publishes the Daedalus Flyer and sponsors the Daedalian Scholarship Program. The Foundation is a GuideStar Exchange member. The Scholarship Program recognizes scholars who indicate a desire to become military pilots and pursue a career in the military. Other scholarships are presented to younger individuals interested in aviation but not enrolled in college. Voluntary contributions to the Foundation are used for these purposes. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP in the Order of Daedalians is limited to: (1) Founder Members—those individuals of the Armed Services of the United States who held a commission and a rating of heavier-than-air pilot prior to November 1, 1918 (the last Founder Member made his last flight in 2003); (2) Named Members—a commissioned military officer in any component of the United States Armed Forces who is a pilot, warrant officer, women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP), naviga- tor, combat systems officer (CSO), naval flight officer (NFO), air battle manager (ABM), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilot or flight surgeon of heavier-than-air powered aircraft or astronaut and is accepted as a member to perpetuate the membership of a Founder Member; (3) Hereditary Members—the descendants of Founder Members; (4) Honorary Members—a distinguished person not otherwise eligible for membership. Daedalus Flyer, (ISSN 10832831) the official Daedalian journal, is published quarterly Address all editorial communications to: by the Daedalian Foundation. All rights reserved. For reprints, contact the editor. Daedalians—P.O. Box 249, JBSA-Randolph, TX 78148-0249 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daedalians Phone Number: (210) 945-2111—FAX: (210) 945-2112 P. O. Box 249, JBSA-Randolph, TX 78150 E-MAIL: [email protected] or [email protected] DAEDALIAN HOME PAGE: http://www.daedalians.org 2 Daedalus Flyer Winter 2018 Special Interest Items 23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board Meet the Board of Trustee Members Lt Gen Douglas H. Owens, USAF (Ret) Vice Commander Past National Commander 28 MG Ronald K. Andreson, USA (Ret) Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, III, USAF (Ret) Tall Tales and Agent Orange Treasurer Secretary Col Randall B. Putz, USAF (Ret) Col Gary Walston, ANG (Ret) 31 Historian Chaplain Playing Fighter Pilot Col Donald Robison, USAF (Ret) Lt Gen Richard E. Brown, III, USAF (Ret) Provost Marshal Judge Advocate 33 Col James W, Kellogg, USAF (Ret) Lt Col J. Todd Hedgepeth, USAF (Ret) Green & Gold Connect Directors Lt Gen Loyd Utterback, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Jerrold P. Allen, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Marn e Peterson, PhD, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen D. Bruce Smith, USAF (Ret) CAPT Mike Denkler, USN (Ret) COL Charles F. Densford, Jr, USA (Ret) Col Howard C. Ham, USAF (Ret) Col Eric Hastings, USMC (Ret) We Thank Our Sponsors BOARD OF TRUSTEES Foundation Chairman Maj Gen Jerrold P. Allen, USAF (Ret) Vice Chairman Secretary Col Ed Sheeran, USAF (Ret) Col Wayne Mudge, USAF (Ret) Treasurer Judge Advocate Col L. Mike Rodriguez, USAF (Ret) Col Francis L. Kapp, USAF (Ret) Trustees COL Dan Meyers, USA (Ret) Col Daniel Sowada, USAF (Ret) Lt Col John Larrison, USAF (Ret) Lt Col Michael Buck, USAF (Ret) Lt Col Olga Custodio, USAF (Ret) Lt Col Kathryn Staiger, USAF (Ret) Lt Col Steve Tourangeau, USAF (Ret) Mr. Will C. Hendrix, Jr. Advertising in the Flyer: HEADQUARTERS STAFF We are now accepting advertisers in the Daedalus Flyer. All advertisements must directly support the Executive Director Mrs. Maureen DeFelice mission of the Daedalians and are at the sole dis- Program Manager Mrs. Kristi Cavenaugh cretion of the Editor. Current rates and policies are Administrative & Facilities Coordinator Ms. Lucia Sanchez-Aldana available on our website: Membership Coordinator Ms. Nicole Cline www.daedalians.org/programs/daedalus-magazine/ Public Relations Manager Ms. Annette Crawford Communications Manager Col Debbie Landry, USAF (Ret) Daedalian Foundation 3 COMMANDER'S PERSPECTIVE Fellow Daedalians, This edition of the Flyer highlights who we are and as it does, I want us to remember, too, on whose shoulders we stand. I invite you to go to our Virtual Flight web page and listen to Maj Gen Eugene Eubank, Founder Member number 37, during a 1982 oral history interview. Then 86 years old, General Eubank recounts his entry into military flying and the changes he experienced in technology, tactics and the use of airpower. Listening to him and considering where we are as an airpower nation today, the constant over time has always been change and the winners in peace and war have been those that best adapt to it and apply its lessons best. With that thought in mind, I would like to share a few insights as we bring 2017 to a close and look forward to a new year. First, we knew that change in our membership criteria was an important initial step to enable our future and we were cautious to focus on relevance as opposed to numbers. We deliberately tempered expectations of growth with acknowledgement that significant change would take time and effort to realize. As an initial indicator of both relevance and growth, we now have members from all rated categories represented in the Order. While raw numbers in a couple of the categories are very small as are overall percentage numbers, the fact that they are part of us now means that others will follow in time and we, in turn, are a better representation all airpower. Second, we broadened our recognition program to include two of the new categories with others to follow. We felt it important to embrace who we are and not just pay it lip service. We are pleased the first awards have already been given out to top graduates for both flight surgeon and RPA pilot classes. So, besides the recognition benefit to the individual, the increased awareness of the Order is enhanced. We plan to expand this program over time. Third, some of you look at numbers. We stand as of my writing at 11,116 members with 403 new members this calendar year, with 311 of those active duty. Since the criteria change in July 2016, we’ve had 513 join our ranks. While our average age still approaches 70, we’ve seen a slight down tick representing an increase in younger members. For one more data point, from July 2015 - June 2016 we brought in 260 members; from July 2016 - June 2017 we brought in 408. The new category representations, new awards and overall numbers are encouraging but again are part of what has happened. The way we communicate has changed. Our website, our Virtual Flight, our presence in other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, all represent either new or improved communication efforts to reach a broader audience. Our foundation is seeing improved giving this year through improved stewardship and awareness. Our headquarters staff has gone through changes with institution of an executive director and new staff to better meet membership needs and improve communication. Your board of directors is engaged and active as we move forward on actions and initiatives that promote our mission and our future. In short, these are all positive steps toward a strong and enduring future. All of us at the headquarters are excited about that future and our mission and we thank all of you for your help, your feedback and your membership support. We wish you all the very best for the coming new year! Volabamus Volamus Lt Gen Douglas Owens, USAF (Ret) National Commander 4 Daedalus Flyer Winter 2018 From the Desk of The Executive Director Maureen DeFelice As you read through this quarterly Winter 2017 issue, you will see several articles about “who we are.” Collectively we are the premier fraternal organization of military aviators, but individually Daedalians are so much more. Members range from ages 22 to 104. Daedalians are active duty, retired, separated, descendants of WWI pilots and distinguished honoraries from all services. Some have second careers while others still fly. The tie that binds Daedalians is the perpetuation of our WWI Founders; all Named and Hereditary members carry a Founder with them that unites our rich WWI heritage and the constant move forward in supporting air supremacy. Together, we have a shared responsibility to pass on this history to future military aviators.