The International Order of Characters 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 Forcesflight 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:
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 of individuals who are or were members of the IOC. If available, the individual's IOC nickname is also shown.
