Daedalus flyer WINTER SPECIAL n v a Winter 2015, Vol. LVI No.4 CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS FEATURES 04 07 Newsbeat Daedalian Citation of Honor 05 16 Commander’s Perspective The Last Fighter Pilot Lee Downer 06 Adjutant’s Column 08 Caitlin’s Corner America’s Premier Fraternal 10 Order of Military Pilots Book Reviews Promoting Leadership in Air and Space 11 Awards 20 Flightline 40 New/Rejoining Daedalians 41 Eagle Wing/Reunions 42 In Memoriam 43 Flight Addresses THE ORDER OF DAEDALIANS was organized on 26 March 1934 by a representative group of American World War I pilots to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, 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 encourage- ment 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 12, 1918 (the last Founder Member made his last flight in 2003); (2) Named Members—those rated heavier-than-air pilot commissioned, warrant, flight officers or WASP, in a component of the United States Armed Services, named in honor 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 by the Address all editorial communications to: Daedalian Foundation, 55 Main Circle, Building #676, Randolph AFB TX 78148-0249. Daedalian Foundation—P.O. Box 249, Randolph AFB, TX 78148-0249 All rights reserved. For reprints, contact the editor. Phone Number: (210) 945-2113—FAX: (210) 945-2112 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Order of Daedalians E-MAIL: [email protected] P. O. Box 249, Randolph AFB, TX 78148-0249 DAEDALIAN HOME PAGE: http://www.daedalians.org or [email protected] ORDER OF DAEDALIANS: (210) 945-2111 E-MAIL: [email protected] 2 Daedalus Flyer Fall 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Commander Lt Gen Doug Owens, USAF (Ret) Vice Commander Past Commander MG Ronald K. Andreson, USA (Ret) Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, III, USAF (Ret) National Adjutant (staff) Chaplain Col James W. Kellogg, USAF (Ret) Lt Gen Richard E. Brown, III, USAF (Ret) Historian Judge Advocate Col Donald Robison, USAF (Ret) Lt Col J. Todd Hedgepeth, USAF (Ret) Provost Marshal Secretary Col Ronald R. Ellis, USAF (Ret) Col Gary Walston, ANG (Ret) Treasurer Col Randall Putz, USAF (Ret) Directors Lt Gen Loyd Utterback, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Marn e Peterson, USAF (Ret) Col Howard C. Ham, USAF (Ret) Col Eric Hastings, USMC (Ret) COL Charles F. Densford, Jr, USA (Ret) Lt Col Leslie R. Dyer, III, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Jerrold P. Allen, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Bruce Smith, USAF (Ret) BOARD OF TRUSTEES Foundation Chairman Maj Gen Jerrold P. Allen, USAF (Ret) Vice Chairman Treasurer Col Ed Sheeran, USAF (Ret) Col Luis M. Rodriguez, USAF (Ret) Secretary Judge Advocate Col Wayne Mudge, USAF (Ret) -vacant- Trustees Maj Gen Davis Rohr, USAF (Ret) Col Robert H. Karre, USAF (Ret) Col Frank Kapp, USAF (Ret) Col John Dipiero, USAF (Ret) COL Dan Meyers, USA (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) Mr. Will C. Hendrix, Jr. STAFF Director of Administration Mrs. Maureen DeFelice Executive Administrator Mrs. Kristi Cavenaugh Editor Ms. Caitlin Cavenaugh Office Administrator Ms. Erin Cavenaugh Office Assistant Ms. Lucia Sanchez-Aldana Daedalian Foundation 3 Newsbeat Daedalian Foundation Inspiring Tomorrow’s Military Aviators If you are pledging at your workplace giving cam- paign, please consider using the Daedalian Founda- tion giving code 11457. We are devoted to encourag- ing young people to pursue a career in military aviation. A special thanks goes to the Moody Foundation The Foundation’s new logo. for the generous grant and support of our scholarship program. First Brigadier General First John D. Hedges Memorial Scholarship Kenneth F. Keller Scholarship Cadet Madison Bell is the first recipient of the John D. AF ROTC Cadet Connor Thomas Yancy is the first Hedges Memorial Scholarship. This award will help recipient of the Keller scholarship that honors our further her education at UTSA. A chemistry major National Treasurer, Scholarship Chairman and long- with a 3.9 GPA, she is entering her third year in her time Daedalian, Ken Keller. Cadet Yancy happens to quest to become a transport pilot with the Air Force. be from Keller, Texas. He is a business major with This scholarship was made possible by the gener- a cumulative GPA of 3.91 and is a member of the ous gift of Mrs. Barbara Hedges in loving memory Ross Volunteers. He has earned a pilot training slot of her husband, a lifetime member of the Order of and has flown more than 20 hours in pursuit of his Daedalians. private license. During his senior year, he will serve as the Squadron 17 Commander in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Past National Commander Nick Kehoe represented the Order at a Vietnam Helicopter Aircrew Memorial Tree dedication at Arlington National Cemetery. He is shown with fellow Daedalians, Major Gen (USA-Ret) Carl McNair, Jr. and Bob Hesselbien (USA-Ret), presi- dent of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, fol- lowing the ceremony attended by several hundred Vietnam aircrew members and their families.” 4 Daedalus Flyer Fall 2015 COMMANDER'S PERSPECTIVE Predators in 2007, the wing now flies the MQ-9A Reaper support- ing ongoing combat operations in SWA. The wing is made up of a mix of both traditional UPT and URT trained pilots and repre- sents the significant and growing role RPAs play in our nations Airpower arsenal. It also represents a challenge the local Flight has with their membership efforts that they continue to work on as many of you are. As we celebrate this holiday season we have much to be thankful for and a new year to look forward to. My thanks to Alan and all those in the Hap Arnold Flight for their warm hospitality and all their great work to support Daedalian activities and pro- grams. My thanks to all Daedalians and best wishes for a wonder- ful and prosperous new year. I had the privilege of spending Veteran’s Day with Flight Captain Alan Leach and members of the Hap Arnold Flight in Riverside, California. Wednesday morning, we gathered at the national cem- etery for the annual Daedalian ceremony honoring our veterans both past and present. It was the Flight’s 36th commemoration and my first to be with them. The day prior, my wife and I drove through the beautiful and hallowed grounds where row after row of American flags, over 230,000 of them, lined the lush green roll- ing hills that mark the final resting places of America’s son and daughters. During our short drive thorough on Tuesday, we saw three internments ongoing and were told they have many more every day. The weather on Veteran’s Day was spectacular, the site of our ceremony was just inside the gates at the memorial overlook- ing the lake in the presence of the tall flowing American Flag and our Daedalian plaque, really very breathtaking. In solemn fashion we followed the bagpipes to our seats and listened while we heard words of tribute and honor, then the names of those that left us this past year, the laying of the wreath, the crack of the rifles in salute and the muffled sound of taps. We followed the bag pipes out to Amazing Grace…how humbling it was just to be there in the presence of so many passed and living that served our nation epitomizing the simple but profound notion of service before self. That is who we as Daedalians are and also what we represent. After the ceremony, we gathered for lunch, where I had the privilege to present a leather jacket to ROTC Cadet Matthew Fry who not only soloed but also got his private pilots license. What Volabamus Volamus a sharp young American, exemplary of the many terrific young people that benefit from our CFIP and scholarship programs. He and all those like him are our future and the importance of our efforts to nurture that spirit and grow their numbers cannot be overstated. I was able to spend some time with the Vice Flight Captain, Lieutenant General Douglas Owens, USAF (Ret) Col Keith Ward, who is Vice Commander of the 163rd Attack National Commander, Order of Daedalians Wing at March ARB. Transitioning from the KC-135 to MQ-1B Daedalian Foundation 5 COLUMN ADJUTANT’Col James W. Kellogg, USAFS (Ret) Volabamus Volamus Colonel James W. Kellogg, USAF (Ret) National Adjutant 6 Daedalus Flyer Fall 2015 CITATION OF HONOR RECIPIENT: Milton A.