About Arnold Air Society

Type of Organization

The Arnold Air Society is a professional, honorary, service organization advocating the support of aerospace power.

Arnold Air Society is professional because of the established intent of its' members to become officers in the United States Air Force.  It strives to instill in its' members an attitude of unselfish dedication to, and responsibility for, fulfillment of the mission of the Air Force and Arnold Air Society.

Arnold Air Society is honorary because of the high standards required of all cadets earning membership.

Arnold Air Society is service oriented because of the contributions and assistance provided to the community, the campus, and officer commissioning programs.

Missions

To create a more efficient relationship among Air Force officer candidates.

To aid in the development of effective Air Force officers.

To further the purpose, traditions, and concepts of the USAF.

To accomplish these through serving the community.

Purposes

AAS affords members excellent opportunities for leadership, experience, and opportunities which provide valuable training.  The Society furthers a working knowledge of the administrative practices of the USAF, which can be great value to a member as a cadet, and later as an officer.

Within the Society, candidates and members alike find fellowship, become better acquainted with the cadre and other officers, and receive more complete training.

The Society develops a valuable esprit de corps.  Group consciousness among members, coupled with improved officer/cadet relationships fostered by the Society, leads directly to a stronger, more efficient cadet corps.

The Society, in participation with the Air Force Association, aids members in gaining an understanding and appreciation of aerospace power for national security.

Another important benefit of AAS is that members come in direct contact with other men and women who share similar goals.  Members have the mutual objective of promoting and furthering the purpose, traditions, and concepts of the Air Force.

Motto, Symbol, & Flower

Motto: "The warrior who cultivates his mind, polishes his arms."  - Duc de Boufflers

Symbol:  The symbol of AAS is a pair of gold wings and a white star containing a red ball set above two blue wreaths, bearing the inscription "Arnold Air Society".

Colors:  White represents the purity of our intent, red symbolizes shed blood of Americans fighting for freedom, blue is the color of the sky in which we fly, gold represents the wings with which we fly, and warrior courage.

Flower:  The official flower of AAS is the Crimson Glory Rose.

Our Namesake

General of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold

Henry H. Arnold was born in Gladwyne, PA, on 25 June 1886.  He graduated from West Point as a 2d Lt in the U.S. Army on 14 June 1907.  In 1911, he was taught to fly by the Wright Brothers and became the 29th pilot to be licensed in the United States.

In 1912, General Arnold won the Clarence H. Mackey Trophy for a 20 minute reconnaissance flight, setting an altitude record of 6540 feet.  In 1917, he was stationed in Panama when WWI broke out, and in 1918 he organized and commanded an aviation defense unit know as the Seventh Aero Squadron.  By the end of the war, he was a colonel and was appointed Assistant Director of Military Aeronautics.

In 1935 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed to the office of Chief of the Army Air Corps.  He won the Mackey Trophy again for leading a squadron of bombers on an 8000 mile flight from Washington, D.C. to Fairbanks, Alaska.

In 1938, he was promoted to the rank of Major General, Chief of Army Air Corps, and in 1940 became Chief of Staff, Army Air Corps.  When the Joint Chief (JCS) was organized, he became Commanding General of the Army Air Corps in 1942.

In 1944, General Arnold organized the famed 20th Air Force composed of the B-29, which he commanded until the end of the war.  Major General Arnold became the first five star General of the United States Air Force by an act of Congress.  He retired as Chief of Staff of the Army Air Corps, and was succeeded by General Spaatz.

He died on 15 January 1950 of a cardiac condition.

General Arnold received the Distinguished Flying Cross in November 1936, and the Distinguished Service Medal in October 1942.  Arnold was awarded the Air Medal in March 1943, and in September 1945 he received the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal.  In October 1945, he was awarded a second Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal.  His other awards included: The World War II Victory Medal; American Defense Medal; American Theater Ribbon; Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon; European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, 1942-1943; U.S. Military Badge No. 1; Morocco's Grand Cross, Grand Officer of the Commander (Ouissam Alaouite); Yugoslavia's Sun in the degree of Grand Aztec Eagle; Mexico's Order of Military Merit; and England's Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The H. H. Arnold Award was established in honor of General Arnold by the Air Force Association in 1948.  It is presented for the "most outstanding contributions toward the peace and the security of the United States in the field of aviation."

Early History

At summer camp in 1947, a group of AFROTC cadets from Cincinnati, Ohio discussed the possibility of an honorary society and presented their idea to Captain James Nolkamper, the first advisor to the Society. In the fall of 1947, a committee was formed to broaden a constitution of the Society.  The name chosen in an unanimous decision was made to honor General H. H. Arnold, one of the greatest leaders in aviation history.  In December 1947, the Society changed its name to the Arnold Air Society of Air Cadets, then tentatively called the Arnold Airmen.

In April of 1948, General C.B. Stone, III, formally notified the Society of their official recognition by the USAF.  The society became a project of the Air Defense Command, whose duty it was to see that the local group became nationalized.  The Hap Squadron at the University of Cincinatti served as the first national HQ.  Paul T. Jones was elected as the first national commander and Major Victor Sampson became the first national advisor.  General H. H. Arnold served as the first honorary commander until his death in 1950, and Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle was unanimously selected to fill his place. 

The first NATCON was held on 25 November 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri.  The National Conclave was used as a means to determining the policies of the Society.  Mrs. H. H. Arnold was named honorary sponsor and the Society officially became the "Arnold Air Society".

The Second National Conclave resulted in the society's affiliation with the Air Force Association. The Second National Conclave also initiated the establishment of the National Publications Headquarters and the Arnold Memorial Scholarship.

At the Fourth and Fifth National Conclaves, a reconstruction of the organizational structure of the society was proposed. This resulted in the formation of the Board of Directors, consisting of the National Commander and all the Area Commanders. At succeeding conclaves, more awards and policies were initiated, such as the formation of Angel Flight, and the Arnold Air Society-Link Foundation Awards for graduate work.

History of Lewis C. Ellis Jr.

2d Lt Lewis C. Ellis Jr. was killed in action 8 April 1944.  Lieutenant Ellis, pilot of a B-24, was shot down near Saizwedel, Germany.  He was born in Lubbock, Texas, on 4 December 1920.  Lieutenant Ellis was a junior Business Administration student at Texas Technological College when he enlisted in 1942.  He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

The Arnold Air Society Squadron at Texas Tech was charted on 6 May 1949.  The Lewis C. Ellis, Jr. Squadron was the 20th member of the Society.

Visit the Lewis C. Ellis Jr. Squadron at Texas Tech University

Affiliated Organizations

The Air Force Association (AFA) is a national, independent, non-profit aerospace power advocacy organization.  Although AAS and AFA are affiliates, it is the stated policy of both organizations that each shall remain at all times an independent entity.  Active and inactive members of AAS become cadet members of the AFA.

Visit the Air Force Association

Silver Wings is a national, co-ed, professional organization dedicated to creating proactive, knowledgeable, and effective civic leaders through community service and education about national defense.  Although SW is a self-governing organization, its objectives in support with AAS, result in sponsorship by AAS, USAF, and the AFA.  All members of SW are associate members of AAS. 

Visit Silver Wings