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Rogers, Joseph (Second World War correspondence)
2015.103.w.r
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Table of contents
box WWII 34, folder 1-23
Series 1, Correspondence to Joseph Rogers 1942 - 2008
Language of Material: English.
This collection contains approximately 130 correspondence written to Joseph Rogers between 1942 and 2008, the bulk of the
materials being dated between 1942 and 1948. These correspondence reveal the day-to-day goings on of Roger's friends and family
both at home and in the military.
Many of the individuals with whom Rogers was in correspondence were, like Rogers, serving in the United States Army Air Force.
Their letters touch on various facets of their military experience: training, testing, where they will be deployed to and
when, achieving rank, and aircraft safety. In a letter dated Mar. 24, 1944, Joseph Salem describes eight plane crashes having
taken place as well as several planes having had to come in with two engines out. Before putting the letter into the envelope,
Salem adjusts his original numbers—a ninth plane has crashed.
One subject of particular interest among the servicemen seems to be, what one of Rogers' friends refers to as, the "girl situation"
(M. T. McMullen, letter postmarked Jun. 27, 1946). They report to one another the availability of girls in a given town as
well as their success within said population. Rogers himself seems to have been something of a ladies' man. There is also
a distinct anti-Semitic/anti-Yankee tone apparent in several of the letters, specifically those written by his military pals:
"I'll not pick up this damn 'yankee brogue.' I'm so damn sick of these Jews and wops, and 'youse guys' . . . ." (Joe R. Uhler,
letter dated Nov. 22, 1942)
box WWII 34, folder 24-25, box WWII 35, folder 26-29, folder 1-4
Series 2, United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 1942-1951
Language of Material: English.
This collection contains various documents and realia pertaining to Rogers' career in the United States Army Air Force including
his service records, flight log, and awards.
In March 1945, First Lieutenant Rogers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement while serving
as lead bombardier of division, group, and squadron formations on heavy bombardment missions against the enemy." Rogers was
also awarded the Air Medal.
Also included in this series are a notebook and copy of the "Pilot's Information File" book used by Rogers while in flight
school, as well as two copies of "Preflight," a publication series commemorating each class of the USAAF Corps of Aviation
Cadets Pre-Flight School for Pilots. The June and July issues for 1943 cover the events and experiences of classes 44A and
44B of which Rogers was a graduate.
Later in his career (1948-49), Rogers volunteered on several occasions to escort the remains of fallen soldiers from the front
back home to their grieving families. The letters granting authorization for these requests and the instruction booklet, "Escorting
American War Dead," with which Rogers was furnished, as well as the obituaries of two of the soldiers whose remains Rogers
escorted are also contained within this series.
box WWII 35, folder 30-31, folder 5-6, box WWII 36, folder 31-34, folder 1-3
Series 3, Hankow, China 1946 - 1948
Language of Material: English.
From September 1946, to January 1949, Captain Rogers was stationed in Hankow, China, serving with the Air Division of the
Army Advisory Group, a group established during the Second World War to provide assistance in an advisory role to the Chinese
Ministry of Defense. The Air Division was implemented in order to provide technical advice with the goal of modernizing the
Chinese Air Force.
This series contains various documents, correspondence, and realia from Rogers' time in China.
box WWII 35, folder 30-31, folder 5-6, box WWII 36, folder 32-33, folder 1-2, flat-box Specimen Box 1, drawer compartment 1
Sub-Series 1, Chinese Air Force (CAF)
Language of Material: English.
Rogers' role as an advisor, as part of the Army Advisory Group, was to provide instruction on bombardiering and navigation
to members of the Chinese Air Force. This sub-series contains several copies of various directives for instruction, designed
for the CAF Unit Staff Course, which cover a wide range of topics from "Introduction to Photo Interpretation" to "Enemy Capabilities."
For his work, Rogers was presented with multiple honors including a pair of Chinese Flying Wings "as a token of the gratitude
of the Chinese Air Force," as well as the Chinese Mai Chi Decoration, awarded by Lieutenant General C. J. Chow, Commanding
General of the Chinese Air Force. Accompanying documentation in both English and Chinese are also included.
This sub-series also includes other military pins as well as patches representing the 8th Air Force and the China-Burma-India
Theater (like those on Rogers' dress tunic in Series 9).
box WWII 36, folder 34, folder 3, box J. Rogers 3
Sub-Series 2, Personal Papers, Hankow
Language of Material: English.
Contained within this sub-series are various correspondence, invitations, cards, and mementos (in both Chinese and English)
received and acquired by Rogers while stationed in Hankow.
One of Rogers' more illustrious correspondents was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, President of the Republic of China (1948-75),
who, with his wife, sent Christmas greetings to Rogers on more than one occasion.
Not at a loss for entertainment, Rogers seems to have been entertained on a fairly regular basis, having received invitations
to various engagements including a reception at the home of the American Consul General, the wedding of one Major S. H. Kwang
to Miss Pou Kong, a dinner-dance put on by the H. B. M. Consul-General and the English Community of Hankow in honor of St.
George's Day, and a Bastille Day celebration with La Communauté Française de Hankeou.
box WWII 36, folder 35-37, folder 4-6
Series 4, Flight Navigation Instruments and Charts
Language of Material: English.
This series contains several instruments and aeronautic charts used by Rogers throughout his career, both as a bombardier
and as an instructor with the Army Advisory Group to the Chinese Air Force.
Also included are two catalogs containing illustrations/photographs and detailed descriptions of various ships and aircraft.
box WWII 36, folder 38, folder 7, box WWII 37, folder 39, folder 1
Series 5, Photographs 1943 - 1954
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 64 photographs and 15 slides showing Joseph Rogers both in and out of uniform. Some of the photographs
have been separated into two separate envelopes: "Lt. Joseph Rogers" and "Capt. J. Rogers." The photographs in the envelope
labeled "Lt. Joseph Rogers" are from Rogers' time in China and include a picture of his house in Hankow as well as several
taken with and of his Chinese colleagues. The "Capt. J. Rogers" photographs are mostly of Rogers with his flight crew. Other
photographs in this series include a group of aerial shots of bombs being dropped and another group of Chinese airplanes labeled
with the name of each aircraft (e.g., Frank, Tabby, Ida, etc.).
object E206.B6 1830, object U410.H35 1971
Series 6, Books 1830 - 1971
Language of Material: English.
This series consists of two books. The first, "American military biography," printed in 1830, highlights several illustrious
personages in America's early military history, including Daniel Boone, Benedict Arnold, and George Washington. Engraved portraits
accompany several of the biographies.
The second book in this series is the "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy." This
book provides the name, date of birth, appointment, and arm of the service as well as important assignments for all academy
graduates starting from 1895 to the time of publication, 1971 (for the years 1802-94, only class and graduation numbers are
provided).
"American military biography" (Special Collections, Catalog no.: E206.B6 1830); "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of
the United States Military Academy" (War Letters Reading Room, Catalog no.: U410.H35 1971).
box WWII 37, folder 40-41, folder 2-3, box Oversize 1
Series 7, Periodicals 1943 - 2009
Language of Material: English.
This series contains various periodicals (newspapers, magazines, etc.) — both Chinese (in English) and American — among which
is an issue of the "Tyndall Target," printed by and for those serving at Tyndall Field, Panama City, Fla. In addition to providing
news, listing the week's events, and entertaining service men with cartoons and games, the paper also recognizes certain individuals
who have distinguished themselves. Rogers himself is included among the "Gunners of the Week" highlighted at the end of the
paper.
"The Tyndall Target," Vol. 2, No. 47 (Saturday, December 18, 1943) - Tyndall Field, Panama City, FL
"Alabama Journal," Vol. LVII, No. 228 (Monday, May 7, 1945) - Montgomery, AL "Nebraska State Journal" (Wednesday, August 15,
1945) - Lincoln, NE
"The Call Bulletin," Vol. 189, No. 52 (Thursday, April 19, 1951) - San Fransisco, CA
"The China Press," Double Tenth Supplement (Sunday, October 10, 1948)
"Aerospace Historian," Vol. 16, No. 4 (Winter 1969)
"Ocala Star-Banner" (Sunday, July 26, 2009)
box WWII 37, folder 42-43, folder 4-5
Series 8, Personal Papers 1948 - 1980
Language of Material: English.
This series contains government documents relating to Rogers' post-military work with the Foreign Operations Administration.
His work with the F.O.A. took him to New Delhi, India, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also included are several miscellaneous
papers (transcripts from Stanford University, tax form copy, receipt, etc.) belonging to Rogers.
box WWII 37, folder 44, folder 6, flat-box Specimen Box 1, Compartment 1, box WWII 32 (oversize)
Series 9, Realia
Language of Material: English.
Included in this series are several clothing items belonging to Joseph Rogers. Among the items are several uniform dress
peices: gloves, hat, and Rogers' winter service dress tunic (jacket). A patch over the inside breast pocket of the tunic bears
Rogers' initials and patches representing the 8th Air Force and the China-Burma-India Theater are located on the left and
right shoulders, respectively (loose 8th Air Force and CBI Theater patches are located in Series 3, Sub-series 1). Rogers'
pilot wings are pinned over the left breast pocket.
Also included in this series are dog tags, a set of headphones, leather mittens, a leather briefcase embossed with the words
"Aircraft Inspector's Kit," a pair of brown leather boots, a pair of cuff-links, two brass buttons (identical to those on
Rogers' dress tunic), Rogers' class ring, a green cloth sack, a leather arm guard, and several calendars ranging in date from
2012 to 2015.