Many members of America's great fraternal organizations, such as the Shriners, Masons, Elks, and American Legionnaires, are familiar with that age-old query, "Are you a Turtle?" Sometimes, one sees a green-shelled turtle lapel pin or even an auto decal with a grinning turtle asking the same question.  But what or who are the Turtles, you ask? Quite simply, The Turtles are a drinking fraternity that exists in the United States of America as a fun-and-honor group usually within the local lodge or post, sort of an auxiliary degree. It traces its honorable origins back to the Second World War, on January 12, 1943, in an English pub, when a group of fighter pilots formed a semi-secret drinking fraternity among its squadron's members, and put prospective candidates for membership through a mock initiation.