History

This is General Henry "Hap" Arnold after whom the Arnold Air Society is named after. He was born on June 25, 1886 in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. A 1907 graduate of West Point, he was the first Chief of Staff of the Army Air Corps, he also won two Mackay Trophies and was a strong advocate of strategic air power and a single independent Air Force. He achieved the full rank of General in 1943, and later retired in 1946. He died on January 15, 1950.

Arnold Air Society is an honorary organization of Air Force ROTC cadets named after General Arnold in hopes that members could profit from his sterling example of productive living.

Arnold Air Society was conceived during the spring and summer of 1947. The first efforts for the organization of this honorary soceity were made by Lt. Col James Pierce, Major Victor Simpson, and Captain James Nollkamper. All were Assistant Professors of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Cincinnati.

On 6 April 1948, the society was recognized by the Air Force.

The year 1949 was an important year in Arnold Air Society history. The first national newsletter was published. This was also the year that General Arnold was named the first honorary National Commander of the society. The first National Commander, Paul T. Jones, was selected, but was later killed in an accident during field training.

On 25 November 1950 Arnold Air Society was affiliated with the Air Force Association. The first National Conclave was held at Cincinnati, Ohio, in March of that year. After General Arnold's death, General James Doolittle became the National Honorary Commander.

In November 1955 Lt. Col Louis Ciccoli (USAF Ret) was hired as Executive Secretary to administer the society. Under his direction, the Arnold Air Society insurance program was first offered to members in 1958.

By 1956, Arnold Air Society had a national enrollment of over 6,000 cadets. Also in that year, the drafts of Arnold Air Society Manuals 1 and 2 were presented to the Board of Directors meeting in New Orleans. These manuals guide the policy and working of Arnold Air Society.

In 1962, Headquarters AFROTC called upon Arnold Air Society to aid in the evaluating a proposed two year AFROTC program which would enable college juniors to enter ROTC. The Arnold Air Society recommendations were highly considered during the planning and evaluation of the proposed program. The two year program was instituted in 1964.

It wasn't until the 1974 National Conclave that the Arnold Air Society officially recognized the need for and encouraged the membership of GMC cadets in Arnold Air Society.