Posted on 08/09/2005 11:49:45 AM PDT by Borges
HEALDSBURG, Calif. - Col. Joseph Rogers, a flying legend who piloted aircraft in three wars and still maintains the world record for flying the fastest single-engine jet, died Saturday at his Northern California ranch of congestive heart failure. He was 81.
A quiet, dignified man, Rogers' long career paralleled aviation history throughout the 20th century.
After growing up on a farm in Chillicothe, Ohio, he joined the Army Air Corps after high school at age 17. He became a flight instructor during World War II. By 1950, he was featured as one of Time Magazine's men of the year, said his son Joseph Rogers Jr.
Rogers was a top fighter pilot during both the Korean and Vietnam wars, completing 270 missions.
"The Air Force and the nation owe him and his generation a great debt of gratitude," said Gen. John Jumper, chief of staff of the Air Force.
Rogers is remembered for setting the world record in speed for single-engine jet planes. In 1959, Rogers flew an F-106 at 1,525 mph, a standard that still holds.
His other flying achievements - including winning the Air Force's Top Gun award in 1963 - earned Rogers a place along the mile-long Aerospace Walk of Honor near Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale.
"He wasn't this gung-ho, buzz cut kind of military guy," said his son Joseph Jr., of Healdsburg. "He had a very quiet sense of humor. He was very patient, and people loved him."
In 1970, Rogers returned to the combat zone as vice commander of a fighter wing in Vietnam.
He left the Air Force after serving for 29 years and worked for another 14 years selling aircraft in Asia for Northrop Aerospace Co.
When he retired completely in 1989, Rogers moved to Healdsburg with his wife, Charis Tate Rogers. The couple raised water buffalo, and Rogers worked hard to bring a F-106 Delta Dart, the plane he flew to record speed, to the Pacific Coast Air Museum. His wife died in 2002.
Besides his son Joe Rogers Jr., Rogers is survived by another son, Garrett Rogers of Oakland; his daughter, Georgia Carver of Rancho Cordova; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Family members are planning a memorial service.
It took a Pilot's Pilot to tame one of these.
May he Rest in Peace.
"Rogers is remembered for setting the world record in speed for single-engine jet planes. In 1959, Rogers flew an F-106 at 1,525 mph"
Does an F-16 have a single engine?
How fast will that little bugger go?
1350-1500 mph, depending on the source..
Impressive, for a 50 year old plane.
Born on May 28, 1924 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Joseph W. Rogers began his historic aviation career when he joined the Army Air Corps on May 23, 1943. After graduating Aviation Cadet Training Class 44H at Williams Army Air Field, AZ in 1944, Rogers served as an instructor pilot flying AT-6 Texan and BT-13 Valiant training aircraft at Minter and Merced AAF’s.
In 1946, Rogers received orders to join the 431st FBS of the 475th FBW based at Kempo, Korea to participate in United State’s effort to reinforce U.N. forces in that nation. On November 8, 1950, the then Capt. Rogers achieved a rare MiG-15 jet kill while flying in his piston-engined F-51D Mustang named Buckeye Blitz VI. After four years of combat in the F-51, Joe transitioned into the F-80 Shooting Star with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing. By the end of his involvement in the War, Rogers logged almost 200 missions in the Korean Theater.
Back on US soil, the newly appointed Major continued his flying career with the famous 71st Fighter Squadron flying F-86A Sabre. In 1954, Rogers entered F-86D Maintenance School and later USAF’s Test Pilots School, among the students in his class were future astronauts L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. and Virgil “Gus” Grissom. After graduation, Rogers joined the F-86D Test Program, and later the F-102A/B / F-106A/B Interceptor Development Programs. During his next assignment as Project Officer for F-106 integration at Air Defense Command Headquarters, Joe was chosen for a project that changed his life.
After the Air Forces selection of the F-106 Delta Dart to make the Services latest attempt at the Absolute Speed Record, there was no question who would pilot the aircraft in this joint USAF / Convair project, Maj. Joe Rogers. On December 15, 1959, the Major became the fastest Jet Pilot in the World after flying F-106A # 56-0467 to an average speed of 1525.95 mph. F-106 # -0467 flew the record flight after F-106A # 56-0459 experienced technical problems throughout the project. On its last flight in Firewall # -0459 became uncontrollable, fortunately Rogers was able to “settle her down” and land the aircraft. In honor of his skillful airmanship demonstrated during the "Firewall Project" Rogers received worldwide recognition and was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross, The DeLavaulx Medal, and the 25th recipient of the Thompson Trophy, an award that can be traced back to the National Air Races in 1929.
In 1960, Lt. Col. Rogers took command of the Air Force's largest Fighter Squadron, the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron formerly based at McChord AFB, now headquartered at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Joe proved to be one of the Squadrons best Pilots flying in the F-102 Delta Dagger, this fact confirmed after winning the USAF’s Air to Air Weapons Meet, "Top Gun" award in 1963. The Fighter meet named William Tell is a competition that pits the best Fighter-Interceptor aircrews from around the Air Force. After a four year command of the 317th FIS, Joe was lured back to flight testing when he took command of the SR-71A / F-12A Test Force. On December 18, 1969, Joe cheated death once again. While flying a test mission with SR-71A # 64-17953, Col. Rogers and his RSO, Lt. Col. Gary Heidelbaugh experienced an in-flight explosion causing a very dangerous high-speed pitch up. Unable to regain control of the aircraft, both men were forced to eject from the aircraft.
In 1973, Joe was thrust back into combat in the skies of Asia as the Vice Commander of the 3rd Fighter Wing in South Vietnam. He flew more than 40 missions, most of them in the A-37 Dragonfly and the F-4 Phantom II. Later, Rogers served as Asst. Deputy Commander of the 7th and the 13th Air Forces in Vietnam.
In February 1975, during his final assignment as Chief of Staff for Operations at Aerospace Defense Headquarters, Joe Rogers retired from the Air Force after a 29 year career. After retirement Joe signed on with Northrop Aerospace, where he worked in the companies Fighter Division, Asian-Pacific Region, marketing F-5 Tiger & F-20 Tigershark fighter aircraft. Rogers retired after 13 years, but is still providing his valuable aviation knowledge to the company as a consultant.
"The couple raised water buffalo..."
Flew a few jets...raised a few buffalo...
Interesting guy. Rare bird indeed.
That is impressive!
Thanks for the ping!
Sounds like he was an interesting guy. Hell of a life!
Yes, either a GE F110 or a Pratt&Whitney F100. Generaly any particular unit will only have one engine type.
The F-106 had the P&W J75. Interesingly the early F100's and the late J75s had very similar ratings. The F-106's engine had more thrust, but the airplane was heaver as well.
What a stud! Talk about the RIGHT STUFF!
Rest in gentle peace, O fearless Col. Rogers. A great man gone.
Thank you for your great post, A.A.
As soon as I read that, I guessed it must have been an F-104. Darn, I was wrong.
R.I.P. Col. Joseph Rogers
Here is a pic of the actual F-106 I flew in. This picture was about 10 years before I flew, and you can see it is a very famous fighter! (tail# 90158)
EL-1996-00090 - 1961-1-20 - The original seven Mercury astronauts during training at NASA Langley Research Center Project Mercury. The original seven astronauts trained at NASA Langley Research Center. Chosen from among hundreds of applicants, the seven men were all test pilots. Standing in front of the U.S. Air Force Convair F-106B aircraft, the astronauts are, from left, Lt. M. Scott Carpenter, Capt. Gordon Cooper, Col. John H. Glenn Jr., Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Comdr. Walter Schirra, Lt. Comdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Capt. Donald K. "Deke" Slayton. (Source: LARC)
Pic is from: http://www.farthestshots.com/pages/EL-1996-00090.html
Excellent post on a real American Patriot. Tough to replace people like that.
Heard the Delta Dart was hard to fly....made for speed runs intercepting (Soviet) bomber formations and packing big time deterrence.
Godspeed Colonel Rogers. Clear skies and a tailwind.
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