Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Finger facts for kids
The Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Digit, often called MHDOID for short, was a special "award" created during World War II. It wasn't a real medal given for bravery or success. Instead, it was a funny, unofficial award given to members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who made big, silly mistakes!
This humorous award was thought up by Squadron Leader Anthony Armstrong Willis. He was the editor of the RAF's monthly magazine called Training Memorandum, or Tee Emm. When someone "won" this award, their name and their funny mistake would be shared in this magazine.
Contents
What Was the Award Like?
No actual medal was ever made for the MHDOID. But in cartoons, it was shown as a clenched fist with the index finger pointing out. Around it were the words FAITH ET BLIND HOPE (meaning "Faith and Blind Hope"). Below that, it said Dieu et Mon Doigt (which means "God and My Finger" in French).
The pointing index finger was meant to show that the "finger of blame" was being pointed at the person who made the mistake. If someone made an extra-silly mistake, they might even get a "Joint." This was like an extra bar added to a real medal, but for even more funny blunders!
Who Received This Funny Award?
Most of the people who "won" the MHDOID were aircrew, like pilots and navigators. This was because their mistakes often happened in the sky and could be quite noticeable or spectacular. However, any member of the RAF could be considered for the award if they made a big enough blunder.
Famous Blunders and Recipients
One well-known story involves the crew of a bomber plane. They got completely lost while flying over enemy territory in Europe. They had to crash-land their plane in a field. To make sure the enemy couldn't get their hands on the plane's secrets, they set it on fire. Then, they started walking, hoping to find safety. To their surprise, they soon found themselves outside a pub in England! They were only about five miles from their own airfield, where they had started. What a mix-up!
The very last MHDOID award during the war went to an RAF station commander. This happened just before VE Day, which marked the end of the war in Europe. A German pilot landed his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 plane at the RAF base, ready to surrender himself and his aircraft. The station commander, seeing the plane, loudly shouted, "Tell the pilot of that Mustang to observe proper landing procedure!" He thought the German plane was an American Mustang, showing a funny lack of attention.
Sources
