John W. Rogers Sr.

John W. Rogers was a member of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, and is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

1918 - 2014

Black-and-white photograph of John W. Rogers in his military uniform.

Early Life

John W. Rogers was born on September 3, 1918, in Knoxville, Tennessee. After his parents died, he went to Chicago to live with his uncle, Henry Turner. There he attended Chicago Teachers College. In 1941, he earned his bachelor’s degree in education and became a teacher in the Chicago public school system. Rogers earned his pilot’s license at the Civilian Pilot Training Program while living in Chicago.

Joining the Military

Before World War II, Black men were prohibited from flying for the military. In January 1941, the government announced it would begin training Black airmen at the Army Air Corps in Tuskegee, Alabama. The 99th Pursuit Squadron, which was part of the Tuskegee Airmen, was activated in March 1941. John Rogers was one of the original twenty-eight airmen recruited to the program.

Black-and-white photograph of John W. Rogers in his flight uniform. — John W. Rogers in his flight uniform. Courtesy of the Rogers family.

Military Service

Beginning in spring 1943, Rogers flew more than 120 missions with the Tuskegee Airmen in Europe.

Black-and-white photograph of John W. Rogers in uniform leaning on the wing of his plane. — John W. Rogers Sr. made his mark as a combat pilot and flew more than 100 missions in the war. A typewritten note attached to this photo reads that Rogers was “the best dive bomber pilot in the business.” University of Chicago.

Legacy

After his service in the military, Rogers attended the University of Chicago Law School. Initially refused admission, he reapplied in person while wearing his uniform and was admitted. John worked as a lawyer before being appointed as a juvenile court judge in Cook County, Illinois, in 1977. He was active in his local chapter of the NAACP and the Urban League and contributed to scholarship funds. In 2007, he and other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. John Rogers died on January 21, 2014. He is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Black-and-white photograph of John W. Rogers in a suit. — John W. Rogers went on to serve his community through the justice system. Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Chicago