The International Order of Characters (IOC) is an organization dedicated to improving the fields of aviation and aerospace. The IOC also provides financial assistance to persons and organizations in fields related to aviation and other technology industries.

History In the South Pacific theater, in the early days of World War II, a United States Army Air Forces flight surgeon, Captain James E. Crane, organized a group of American and Allied pilots under his care into a fraternal order that came to be called the International Order of Characters. At their induction into the order, each member received a private nickname known only to the other members. The private nicknames soon became public call-signs for the aviators as they recovered and returned to the war. By 1943, the IOC had grown to nearly one thousand members, but activity in the order stopped when Crane was reassigned to the United States.

In the early 1950s, Dr. Crane, then a flight examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration, reactivated the IOC at the urging of former members. The reborn IOC became an education foundation that provided scholarships and grants to children of deceased or disabled pilots as well as to former members of the armed forces who studied for a degree in aviation-related fields of research.

Publications The order publishes the IOC Memorial Log commemorating those friends, family, or IOC members that have died. The Memorial Log is presented at every meeting of the IOC.

Conferences The IOC typically hosts two meeting a year—an aviation symposium in the spring and a meeting in the fall. These events have been held at locations throughout the world.

Awards During its annual meetings, the IOC recognizes aviation personalities and aviation achievement with the following trophies. The IOC trophies are awarded on the basis of achievement in aviation, aerospace and associated fields of activity. Recipients are not required to be IOC members.

Aero Space Trophy Award Recipients of the IOC Aero Space Trophy Award include:

1964—Joseph Walker 1965—James McDivitt 1966—Robert Rushworth 1967—William "Pete" Knight 1969—Igor Sikorsky 1970—Jerauld Gentry 1971—John Stack 1972—Walter Schirra, Jr. 1973—William P. Lear 1981—Paul Tibbets 1982—Jack Hall 1983—Bob Stephens 1984—Neil Anderson 1991—Kenneth L. Tallman 1995—Barry Goldwater 1996—Charles H. Kaman 1997—Jeffery L. Ethell

Character of the Year Award Recipients of the IOC Character of the Year Award include:

1962—Roscoe Turner 1963—Barry Goldwater 1964—Adm. Daniel F. Smith 1965—Maj. Gen. C.L. Mullins 1966—V. Adm. C.E. Rosendahl 1967—James E. Crane 1969—Herman Salmon 1970—R. Adm. George Dufek 1971—Takofumi Hishikari 1972—Sergei Sikorsky 1973—John M. Conroy 1974—Joseph U. Greely 1975—Joseph Higgins 1976—Clifford Henderson 1977—Jack Garfield 1979—John Boren 1980—Douglas Moody 1982—Vincent O'Toole 1983—Henry J. Esposito 1985—John E. Bach 1986—Bruce Tingle 1987—J. Sheldon Lewis 1988—Fred E. Muhl 1989—Richard G. Paul 1990—Max Feibelman 1992—Adriane Gladstone 1993—Jerome P. Ashfield 1995—Armand S. Toron 2000—Alton G. Hudson 2002—Donald J. Rauch

Pilot of the Year Award Recipients of the IOC Pilot of the Year Award include:

1954—Col. Leon W. Gray 1955—Capt. Cassmier S. Szmagaj 1956—Capt. Edward W. Kinsley 1957—Capt. Ned Avary 1958—Capt. Page Smith 1959—Capt. S.G. Wood 1960—Capt. Charles Tennsted 1961—General Adolf Galland 1961—Robert Stanford Tuck 1962—Scott Crossfield 1963—Herbet O. Fisher 1964—Capt. Marius Lodeesen 1965—Gen James Steinoff 1966—Brig. Gen. Robin Olds 1967—Col. Joseph Cotton 1969—A.W. "Tony" LeVier 1970—Col. Francis Gabreski 1971—Prince Bernard 1972—Reitsch-Flagkapitan Hanna Reitsch 1973—Col. Joseph Kittinger 1974—Adm. F.H. Michaelis 1975—H.T. "Dick" Merrill 1976—Arthur Godfrey 1977—Capt. Charles Mathews 1978—Capt. Kimball Scribner 1979—Capt. Roy Simpkins 1980—David E. Coffman 1981—Capt. Joseph Grant 1982—Mrs. Siggy Silkorsky 1983—Bob Hoover 1984—Jack Doswell 1985—Con Rodewald 1986—Capt. John Testrake 1987—Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan 1988—H. Clay Lacy 1989—Michael Graham 1990—Maj. Gen. Leigh Wade 1991—George Haddaway 1992—Albert Bayer 1993—Ann Lindbergh 1994—Capt. Eric Brown 1997—Rudy Opitz 1998—J. Stephen Fossett 1999—Col. Eugene P. Deatrick 2000—Johnson M. Taylor 2001—Raymond L. Hunicke

Scholarship fund The IOC Scholarship Fund provides educational assistance to the descendants of pilots and to those pursuing careers in aviation or related industries. The IOC also provides funding to organizations that issue individual scholarships to deserving candidates in fields related to aviation and other technology industries.

Notable members The following is an incomplete list of notable individuals who are or were members of the IOC. If available, the individual's IOC nickname is also shown.

Douglas Bader Charles Bassett, Boom Boom Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, HRH The Lion Eric Brown, Winkle Scott Crossfield, Rocket Bill Dana, Jose Eugene P. Deatrick, Bismark Jimmy Doolittle George J. Dufek, Penguin Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia Steve Fossett, Cucumber Gabby Gabreski, Gabby Adolf Galland, The Red Knight Jerauld R. Gentry, Flying Bathtub Arthur Godfrey, Bunkie Barry Goldwater, Gold Dust Richard P. Hallion, Memory Bank Bob Hoover, Mustang Dietrich Hrabak Charles H. Kaman, Pres. Kaman Aircraft Joseph Kittinger, The Jump William J. Knight, Lickety Split Clay Lacy, Racey Bill Lear, King Lear Tony LeVier, Lightning James McDivitt, Gemini Cricket Dick Merrill, Old Ping Pong Balls Robin Olds, Phantom Günther Rall Hanna Reitsch, Supersonic Sue Robert Rushworth, North Star Burt Rutan Herman Salmon, Fish Walter Schirra, Jr., Sky Ray Robert Lee Scott, Jr., Shoe Clerk Igor Sikorsky, Winged S Johannes Steinhoff Robert L. Stephens, The Silver Fox II Kenneth L. Tallman, Iron Wind Paul Tibbets, Big Bang Robert Stanford Tuck, Spitfire Roscoe Turner, The Roar Joseph Walker, Mach 7

References

External links IOC Homepage https://web.archive.org/web/20120227142101/http://www.iocaviation.org/History_2.html