Roscoe Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown speaks at the dedication of theTuskegee Airmen Bus Depot ofMTA Regional Bus. | |
| Born | (1922-03-09)March 9, 1922 Washington, D.C., US |
| Died | July 2, 2016(2016-07-02) (aged 94) Bronx, New York, US |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | Army Air Corps |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 100th Fighter Squadron of 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 Airmen and asquadron commander of the100th Fighter Squadron of 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 Forces inEurope duringWorld 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 190 fighter.[6][7] He was awarded theDistinguished Flying Cross.[8]
He was appointed commander in June 1945, which was afterVE Day (May 8, 1945).
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 TV showAfrican American Legends.[10] Brown was President ofBronx Community College from 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 Medal in recognition of their service.[15]
He was also a member and past president of the100 Black Men of America New York Chapter.[16] and professor of Urban Education at theCUNY Graduate Center.
Brown died on July 2, 2016, atMontefiore Medical Center inthe Bronx,New York, at the age of 94.[2][17][18] He had resided in Riverdale in his latter years.[19] His ashes were interred atArlington National Cemetery on what would have been his 95th birthday, March 9, 2017.[20] A plaza atAqueduct Walk in the Bronx was named for him in 2019.[21]
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| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Bronx Community College 1977 — 1993 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
