Roscoe C. Brown Jr.
Roscoe Brown | |
---|---|
![]() Brown speaks at the dedication of theTuskegee Airmen Bus DepotofMTA Regional Bus. | |
Born | Washington, D.C.,US | March 9, 1922
Died | July 2, 2016 Bronx, New York,US | (aged 94)
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Army Air Corps |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 100th Fighter Squadronof the332nd Fighter Group |
Conflict | World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Dr. Roscoe Conkling Brown Jr.(March 9, 1922 – July 2, 2016) was one of theTuskegee Airmenand asquadroncommander of the100th Fighter Squadronof the332nd Fighter Group.[1]
Brown was born in Washington, D.C., in 1922.[2][3]His mother was a teacher and his father, Roscoe C. Brown Sr. (1884–1963), was a dentist and an official in the United States Public Health Service[4]who was born as George Brown and had changed his name to honorRoscoe Conkling,a strong supporter of the rights of African Americans duringReconstruction.His mother was the former Vivian Kemp, a teacher.[2]
Brown graduated fromSpringfield College,Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was valedictorian of the Class of 1943.[5]He joined the U.S. Army, and graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School on March 12, 1944, as member of class 44-C-SE[1]
During combat with theU.S. Army Air ForcesinEuropeduringWorld War II,he served as a flight leader and operations officer. On a March 24, 1945, mission to Berlin, Captain Brown shot down aGermanMe 262jet fighter,becoming the first 15th Air Force pilot to shoot down a jet. On March 31, he downed aFw 190fighter.[6][7]He was awarded theDistinguished Flying Cross.[8]
He was appointed commander in June 1945, which was afterVE Day(May 8, 1945).
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Roscoe_C._Brown%2C_Marcellus_G._Smith%2C_and_Benjamin_O._Davis.jpg/220px-Roscoe_C._Brown%2C_Marcellus_G._Smith%2C_and_Benjamin_O._Davis.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/President_George_W._Bush_Presents_the_Congressional_Gold_Medal_to_Dr._Roscoe_Brown_Jr.%2C_During_Ceremonies_Honoring_the_Tuskegee_Airmen_at_the_U.S._Capitol.jpg/220px-President_George_W._Bush_Presents_the_Congressional_Gold_Medal_to_Dr._Roscoe_Brown_Jr.%2C_During_Ceremonies_Honoring_the_Tuskegee_Airmen_at_the_U.S._Capitol.jpg)
After the war, Brown resumed his education. His doctoral dissertation atNew York University[8]was on exercise physiology.[9]
Brown became a professor at New York University and directed the NYU Institute of Afro-American Affairs (now the Institute of African American Affairs) in 1950.[10]Brown hostedThe Soul of Reason,a radio talk show with interviewees which included politicians, professional athletes, medical professionals, and contemporary artists, which aired between 1971 and 1986.[11]Brown also hostedBlack Arts(1970–71)[12]andCUNY TVshowAfrican American Legends.[10]Brown was President ofBronx Community Collegefrom 1977 to 1993 and director for the Center for Education Policy at theCity University of New York.[2]Among his many distinguished awards, honors, and recognitions, he was elected into the National Academy of Kinesiology (née American Academy of Physical Education)[13]in 1971 as an Associate Fellow.[14]In 1992, Brown received an honorary doctor of humanics degree from his alma mater, Springfield College.
On March 29, 2007, Brown attended a ceremony in theU.S. Capitol rotunda,where he and the other Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded theCongressional Gold Medalin recognition of their service.[15]
He was also a member and past president of the100 Black Men of AmericaNew York Chapter.[16]and professor of Urban Education at theCUNY Graduate Center.
Brown died on July 2, 2016, atMontefiore Medical Centerinthe Bronx,N.Y.at the age of 94.[2][17][18]He had resided in Riverdale in his latter years.[19]His ashes were interred atArlington National Cemeteryon what would have been his 95th birthday, March 9, 2017.[20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abTuskegee University's Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing. Retrieved 2012-01-21Archived2013-12-03 at theWayback Machine
- ^abcdRoberts, Sam (July 7, 2016)."Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., 94, Tuskegee Airman and Political Confidant".New York Times.p. A17.Archivedfrom the original on 6 July 2016.Retrieved7 July2016.
- ^"Roscoe C. Brown".thehistorymakers.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2013.Retrieved6 November2013.
- ^The History MakersArchived2011-06-17 at theWayback MachineBiography of Captain Brown
- ^Interview: Dr Roscoe Brown, Tuskegee Airman and Squadron CommanderArchived2022-01-23 at theWayback Machineclaytonperry
- ^"Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. - Military Biography".Archivedfrom the original on 2008-05-01.Retrieved2010-01-29.
- ^"Roscoe Brown, Jr. Biography".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-08-18.Retrieved2010-01-29.
- ^ab"Saying farewell to an American hero: Roscoe Brown Jr".The New York Post.July 5, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-07-05.Retrieved2021-04-13.
- ^Pilot and edicator Roscoe C BrownKeystone College
- ^ab"Famed Tuskegee Airman and educator, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr. passes at 94".amsterdamnews.7 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-06-24.Retrieved2021-06-19.
- ^"Guide to the Records of the Institute of African American Affairs RG.9.8".dlib.nyu.edu.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-04-30.Retrieved2021-02-12.
- ^Heitner, Devorah (2013).Black power TV.Durham. p. 151.ISBN978-0-8223-5409-3.OCLC816030807.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-03-04.Retrieved2021-06-19.
{{cite book}}
:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^Cardinal, Bradley J. (2022). "The National Academy of Kinesiology: Its founding, focus, and future".Kinesiology Review.11(1): 6–25.doi:10.1123/kr.2021-0064.
- ^The American Academy of Physical Education (1971). "The Academy Welcomes to Associate Fellowship".The Academy Papers.5:89.
- ^"WWII black pilots, Tuskegee Airmen, get top civilian honor"Archived2011-06-29 at theWayback MachineWilliam Douglas.McClatchy Newspapers,March 30, 2007.
- ^Roscoe C Brown, JrFacebook
- ^"Longtime NYC educator, WWII hero, Roscoe Brown dead at 94".New York Daily News.4 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-07-06.Retrieved2016-07-05.
- ^World War II Hero Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Dies at 94Archived2016-07-05 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Sixty years later, Congress honors Tuskegee Airmen"Archived2016-03-03 at theWayback MachineWilliam Douglas.McClatchy Newspapers,March 15, 2007.
- ^"Brown, Roscoe C".ANCExplorer.U.S. Army.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-16.Retrieved2021-04-13.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1922 births
- 2016 deaths
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- Tuskegee Airmen
- Tuskegee University people
- Military personnel from the Bronx
- African-American aviators
- Aviators from Washington, D.C.
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Springfield College alumni
- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni
- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development faculty
- Bronx Community College faculty
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- Presidents of Bronx Community College
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American military personnel