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From Obituaries appearing in the Corning, New York "Leader" and the Miami Herald, in March, 1983: John T. Rogerson, 87, an aviation pioneer associated with Glenn Curtiss and a veteran Pan American World Airways pilot, died Monday, March 21, 1983, in Miami Springs. He retired in 1956 after 27 years with the airline. A native of Bayport, Long Island, Capt. Rogerson learned to fly with the Royal Canadian Air Corps in World War I. He served in England as a flight instructor and returned to the United States in 1923 to barnstorm in Cuba. In a 1978 interview, Capt. Rogerson said, "We'd go all over the island, putting on flights. We'd horse around, getting the people excited, and take them up for so-much a ride." Capt. Rogerson flew for Glenn Curtiss in Hammondsport and Florida and was one of the first half-dozen pilots in Pan American Airways when the company was formed. During World War II he flew with the Air Transport Command. Among his passengers were Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Joe Stillwell, Field Marshall Sir John Gill and many show personalities, including Humphrey Bogart who were performing for the troops in the China-Burma-India theater. He was also an athlete with many medals and trophies for track and field events, including the British armed forces and championship meets. When he was about 70, he placed second in the Lakeside Country Club Championship golf tournament in Penn Yan. He was a member of the RAF War Birds, Clipper Pioneers of Pan Am and the OX5 Club. Surviving are his wife Barbara K.; two daughters, Alice Barker and Barbara Marcotti; two sons, Thomas and John Jr.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two sisters. |
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