Claude Alexander Rowe Jr. (1921 - 2018)

Born 7 Jul 1921 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Winifride (Swinnerton) Rowe — married [date unknown] in England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Claude Rowe Jr. is Notable.

Claude Rowe served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.

Claude Alexander Rowe, Jr was born on 7 Jul 1921, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, son of Claude Alexander Rowe and Louise Giscombe, both of Jamaica.^[1][2]

Claude Rowe Jr. had his mind set to be a pilot at a very young age. After graduating high school in Detroit, he went to Canada and earned his wings with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Told of the Tuskegee Program for African-American military pilots, he returned to the United States, enlisted in the U.S. Army, and joined the Tuskegee Program. He graduated in Class: 46-C-TE with a graduation date of 28 Jun 1946 and rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

While stationed in England he married Winifride Swinnerton (1929-2019), and they had eight children^[3]

When the U.S. Air Force was created in 1947, he transitioned from the U.S. Army Air Corps to the new U.S. Air Force.

In all, he served during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, concluding his career as a Captain.

He died 20 Sep 2018, aged 97, and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X799-M9Q : accessed 11 April 2023), Claude Rowe Jr. in household of Claude Rowe, Detroit (Districts 0001-0250), Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 130, sheet 4B, line 71, family 74, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1036; FHL microfilm 2,340,771
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:KHMJ-K7F : Sat Mar 11 07:12:51 UTC 2023), Entry for Claude Rowe and Louise Rowe, 1940.
3. ↑ https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-claude-rowe-20181005-story.html
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193333036/claude-alexander-rowe: accessed 10 April 2023), memorial page for CPT Claude Alexander Rowe Jr. (7 Jul 1921–20 Sep 2018), Find a Grave Memorial ID 193333036, citing Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA; Maintained by PIN (contributor 47281994).