Roscoe C. Brown Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roscoe Brown
|
|
|---|---|
Brown speaks at the dedication of the Tuskegee Airmen Bus Depot of MTA Regional Bus.
|
|
| Born | March 9, 1922 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | July 2, 2016 (aged 94) Bronx, New York |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
Army Air Corps |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group |
| Conflict | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Roscoe Conkling Brown Jr. (born March 9, 1922 – died July 2, 2016) was a brave American pilot. He was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American military pilots who fought in World War II. Brown was a leader, serving as a squadron commander for the 100th Fighter Squadron.
Contents
Roscoe Brown's Amazing Military Career
Roscoe Brown became a squadron commander in June 1945. Before that, he was a flight leader and operations officer during battles. He finished his flight training at the Tuskegee Flight School on March 12, 1944. He then served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II.
Fighting in World War II
Captain Brown was a skilled pilot. On March 24, 1945, during a mission to Berlin, he shot down a German Me 262 jet fighter. Just a few days later, on March 31, he shot down another enemy plane, a Fw 190 fighter. He was the first pilot from the 15th Air Force to shoot down a jet. For his bravery and skill, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Life and Work After the War
Before joining the military, Roscoe Brown graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1943. He was the top student in his class. After the war, he went back to school and earned his doctorate from New York University.
A Career in Education and Media
Brown became a professor at New York University in 1950. He also led the NYU Institute of Afro-American Affairs, which is now called the Institute of African American Affairs.
He hosted a radio talk show called The Soul of Reason from 1971 to 1986. On his show, he interviewed many interesting people. These included politicians, professional athletes, doctors, and artists. He also hosted other shows like Black Arts and the CUNY TV show African American Legends.
From 1977 to 1993, Brown was the President of Bronx Community College. He also worked as a director for the Center for Education Policy at the City University of New York. He received many awards and honors for his work. In 1992, his old college, Springfield College, gave him an honorary degree.
His Family and Legacy
Roscoe Brown was born in Washington, D.C. in 1922. His father, Roscoe C. Brown Sr., was a dentist. His father had changed his name to honor Roscoe Conkling, who supported the rights of African Americans. His mother, Vivian Kemp, was a teacher.
On March 29, 2007, Roscoe Brown attended a special ceremony. It was held in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. There, he and the other Tuskegee Airmen were given the Congressional Gold Medal. This award recognized their important service to the country.
Brown was also a member and former president of the 100 Black Men of America New York Chapter. He was also a professor at the CUNY Graduate Center. Roscoe Brown passed away on July 2, 2016, at the age of 94. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on March 9, 2017, which would have been his 95th birthday.
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
