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Newsletter>
Sherman Rose dies
September 5, 2008
News
By Col. Roosevelt Lewis
Updated Aug 28, 2008 - 06:42:36 EDT
It is with deep regret I must inform you of the passing on
Wednesday, August 20, of our beloved Sherman T. Rose, an
Original Tuskegee Airman Flight Instructor. He was 88.
Aviator, mentor, patriot; he was a beloved gentlemen who
set high standards of excellence in his life as a flight
instructor, citizen and friend.
Rose was a pioneering instructor in Primary Flight Training
at Historic Moton Field in Tuskegee beginning in 1941 and
lasting until the end of the war. He was among the first
Negroes to be trained and graduate from the government
Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) Program in 1940.
Rose helped inspire, motivate and train the remarkable
young Americans who became the first Black Military
Aviators in the history of the nation; the famed Tuskegee
Airmen of WWII. Much of the success of the Airmen was due
to the remarkable basic aviation foundation given them by
Rose and the other dedicated instructors hired by Tuskegee
Institute. This was a historic military contract with the
U.S. Government and a Negro educational institution; it
permitted Tuskegee Institute (now University), to spawn the
Tuskegee Airmen..
After WWII, Sherman Rose was one of a key cadre of talented
Black Tuskegee Airmen Flight Instructors who integrated
Army Flight Training at his beloved Fort Rucker, Ala.
He not only trained fixed wing pilots at the post, but also
became one of the best helicopter instructors in the U.S.
Army. Many combat helicopter veterans of the Vietnam era
who trained at Ft. Rucker have lauded Sherman as an
instructor and aviator. It has always been easy to elicit a
Sherman Rose aviation story.
A legendary aviator at Fort Rucker, Rose has been honored a
number of times by the City of Dothan, Ala.
In 2001, a mural on the facade of one of the City's most
historic downtown buildings was painted with a picture of
Rose surrounded by a collage of key aviation associations
and events in his life. He has contributed much to the
fabric of the Dothan community. He has been lauded for his
work with city leadership in obtaining a number federal
development grants, including an industrial park.
Sherman Rose loved his family, aviation and life. He is
remembered as being very active in his church and
supporting patriotic events. He was a mentor to thousands
of young aviators over his lifetime. During the years, Rose
kept in touch with his good friend, C. Alfred Anderson,
"Chief" Pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen at Moton Field.
He would often fly into Moton Field with his students.
Annually, during the last two weeks of July, Moton Field
would come alive with young minority flight students from
across the nation. Rose would instruct in the NAI-Black
Wings In Aviation Summer Flight Academy with other fellow
Tuskegee Airmen Instructors.
Many of his former students are now captains with the
nation's premier airlines or senior Military aviators who
have served the nation well because of Rose.
The Annual Memorial Day NAI-Tuskegee Fly-In always found
Sherman sitting on the front row in the hangar; holding
court with his fellow Tuskegee Airmen and mentoring young
aviators. He was obsessed with passing on his wealth of
aviation knowledge to our youth.
Funeral services were held August 25, 2008 at Greater
Beulah Baptist Church with the Rev. Brandon K. Marshall
officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the
Friends of Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Inc.,
P.O. Box 831199, Tuskegee, AL, 36083-1199. 
  
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