Some Local History

by Creeker , Hardwoods, Sunday, December 07, 2014, 15:45 (3644 days ago)

West Virginia is know for military people of note. The article below is from the Beckley newspaper & concerns one of its natives. Also note the naming of the town "Harper" which I operated the firewood business from.

Col. Arthur Harold Rogers

Following the odyssey of the Jolly Rogers

Col. Arthur Harold Rogers was one of the most extraordinary men of valor who fought in World War II. He served the United States war effort as an aggressive fighter pilot and left an amazing legacy in the field of aviation. Col. Rogers was born in Beckley on Dec. 22, 1911, just eight years after the birth of the airplane.

Col. Rogers was commander of the Jolly Rogers, officially called the 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in the Southwest Pacific 1942-1944. No single heavy bomber unit in the Air Corps ever claimed to beat the record of the Jolly Rogers who flew the four engine B-24, which was also called the Liberator, with twin-tail insignia of a huge skull surmounting two crossed bombs. Their bombing record has been acclaimed by the men who served in the Southwest Pacific and beyond. Jolly Rogers is the “dauntless” name of the 90th Bombardment Group, a name that honors and reflects their pirate-like mission to raid the Japanese sea lanes. Col. Rogers usually flew Connell’s Special of the 400th Squadron. There were three additional Bombardment Squadrons, the 319th, 320th, and 321st.

The following is an excerpt from the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) that was awarded Col. Arthur H. Rogers by President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 400th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, while participating in bombing missions during the period from 1 December 1942 through 10 April 1943 against enemy targets in the Southwest Pacific Area of Operations.

“He led four squadrons of his group in a daylight strike against four enemy destroyers off Gasmata, New Britain. Despite interception by 35-40 enemy fighters and intense anti- aircraft fire, three bombing runs were made from low altitude and eight enemy aircraft destroyed.

“He volunteered to test new features of a bomber in combat conditions and flew alone for an hour and a half over Wewak unsuccessfully seeking enemy opposition. On another occasion he flew an individual reconnaissance mission in Hansa Bay area and inflicted damage on a 4500 ton enemy vessel.

“On 10 April 1943 he piloted a bomber in a strike against enemy shipping in Wewak Harbor. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire which destroyed his hydraulic system, runs were made which damaged or destroyed two enemy vessels. When leaving the target area another ship was sighted, and although his bombs were gone, plane badly damaged, and a crash landing inevitable, he made three strafing attacks which left the enemy ship in flames.

“Colonel Rogers exhibited great daring over this period and consistently sought out and defeated the enemy. His personal courage and zealous devotion to duty have upheld the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.”

The Distinguished Service Cross is our nation’s second highest award for valor in combat Col. Rogers contracted a debilitating tropical disease during the war and in 1947 he retired from active military service for disability. He continued to work where his leadership, combat experience and aviation engineering expertise were put to good use at the Pentagon to help shape the modern Untied States Air Force that emerged from World War II.

In the early 1950s Col. Rogers purchased 3,000 acres in Lake County’s Little Everglade, Fla., where he and his highschool sweetheart Elsie (Hunt) raised their three sons on his reclaimed ranchland. Col. Rogers died July 12, 1984, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The town of Harper, W.Va., was named for Henry Harrison Harper. It was previously known as Miller’s Camp Branch. The name was changed Oct. 17, 1903. Henry H. Harper was survived by 24 grandchildren, one of whom was Col. Arthur H. Rogers, commander of the famous Jolly Rogers of the 90th Bomb Group of the Pacific during World War II.

Now you know ...the rest of the story!

Two specific books honoring Col. Arthur H. Rogers are “The Jolly Rogers” a Schiffer Military History Book, and “The Jolly Rogers History of the 90th Bomb Group During World War II” by John S. Alcorn. Both of these books were used as reference for this article.

Learn more by Googling Col. Arthur H. Rogers on the web and by reading any of the numerous books written about the Unit that carried his name.

http://jollyrogersweb.com/Missions/ColArthurHRogers.aspx

https://www.tumblr.com/search/arthur%20h%20rogers