Bob Rogers (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Harry Doherty Rogers (November 7, 1921 - 2000), soon known universally as Bob, was born in Warden in the Orange Free State
, South Africa
, on 7 November 1921. He matriculated from Maritzburg College
in 1938, upon which he enrolled as a medical student at the University of the Witwatersrand
. In due course, he won his Springbok (i.e. national) colours for shooting, and later joined the SA Air Force
(SAAF), commencing his flying training in January 1941.
By October of that year, Bob was assigned to 208 Squadron (RAF) in Egypt
, where he flew Hurricanes and Spitfires in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Austria. He was shot down near Benghazi
, but managed to escape capture. In August 1942, despite having a finger shot off, he fought off 4 Luftwaffe
ME 109s. By December 1943, he had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and for his services, had been awarded a DSO
and DFC
and Bar. Even his father, who was a captain in the army, had to salute him – much to the delight of both men.
After the war, Bob served in various posts, including as a flight instructor and as Aide-de-Camp
(ADC) to the Governor-General of the Union. Major Rogers (as he then was) served in the Korean War
in 1951 and 1953 as a fighter bomber pilot, flying Mustangs and Sabres. He earned the American DFC, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Korean Chungwe Decoration. In 1954, he married Clare Bosch and they had a son.
Thereafter Bob was OC of 12 and 24 Squadrons SAAF, and in 1974 he was appointed Chief of the SAAF. Lt-Gen Rogers was awarded the Order of the Star of SA, the SM and the Chief of Defence Force Commendation Medal and was decorated by various foreign governments.
General Rogers retired from the SAAF in 1979 and settled in Knysna
, Cape Province. In 1989, he became the Democratic Party MP for Walmer, Port Elizabeth, and acted as defence spokesman for that party in parliament.
He died in 2000, aged 78.
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, on 7 November 1921. He matriculated from Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College, known locally as College, is a public school for boys situated in the city of Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
in 1938, upon which he enrolled as a medical student at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
. In due course, he won his Springbok (i.e. national) colours for shooting, and later joined the SA Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
(SAAF), commencing his flying training in January 1941.
By October of that year, Bob was assigned to 208 Squadron (RAF) in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where he flew Hurricanes and Spitfires in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Austria. He was shot down near Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, but managed to escape capture. In August 1942, despite having a finger shot off, he fought off 4 Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
ME 109s. By December 1943, he had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and for his services, had been awarded a DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and Bar. Even his father, who was a captain in the army, had to salute him – much to the delight of both men.
After the war, Bob served in various posts, including as a flight instructor and as Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
(ADC) to the Governor-General of the Union. Major Rogers (as he then was) served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in 1951 and 1953 as a fighter bomber pilot, flying Mustangs and Sabres. He earned the American DFC, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Korean Chungwe Decoration. In 1954, he married Clare Bosch and they had a son.
Thereafter Bob was OC of 12 and 24 Squadrons SAAF, and in 1974 he was appointed Chief of the SAAF. Lt-Gen Rogers was awarded the Order of the Star of SA, the SM and the Chief of Defence Force Commendation Medal and was decorated by various foreign governments.
General Rogers retired from the SAAF in 1979 and settled in Knysna
Knysna
Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
, Cape Province. In 1989, he became the Democratic Party MP for Walmer, Port Elizabeth, and acted as defence spokesman for that party in parliament.
He died in 2000, aged 78.