Roscoe Draper Philadelphia Chapter Black Pilots of America (BPA)
The Flying Club of Philadelphia
Mission Statement
We fly airplanes
We fly together and with other BPA Chapter
We teach, coach, and mentor
We promote pilot proficiency
We encourage youth to remain in school
We host fly-ins
We host social events
We give airplane rides
About Us
The Black Pilots of America (BPA) is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered for a variety of purposes. Chief among these are to promote African American participation in aviation and to introduce youth to the different fields in aviation/aviation industries.
The Roscoe Draper Chapter is the local chapter of BPA for the Philadelphia area. Our members are men and women who come from diverse backgrounds. Some have professional aviation experience (military, general aviation, commercial airlines, charter pilots, flight instructors, educators, etc...) some are involved in aviation as an avocation and others are student pilots.
Who is Roscoe Draper?
Roscoe "Coach" Draper
Born in Haverford, PA on May 14, 1919, Roscoe Draper grew up in Haverford and Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors from Haverford High School and continued his education at the Hampton Institute (later Hampton University).
After enrolling in the civil pilot training program in 1939, Roscoe received his Private Pilot license in 1940. He was one of two men selected for the secondary course at the Tuskegee Institute (later became Tuskegee University) and completed his pilot training in 1942. He was one of the first ten men of color selected to serve as a flight instructor for the Army Air Corps "Tuskegee Experiment".
He taught Army Air Corps cadets in the primary phase of their flight training at Moton Field, Tuskegee, AL (from 1942 to 1946) and he also served on the academic board for the Tuskegee Institute."Coach" was mentored by another aviation legend, "Chief" Charles Alfred Anderson (1907-1996) who was also from the Philadelphia area. Together, they trained the famed Tuskegee Airmen who went on to compile their impressive list of accomplishments. Roscoe was affectionately given the nickname "Coach" by his flight students because it described his teaching style.
In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen collectively received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, from President George W. Bush. Bronze replicas are awarded to individual members. The Smithsonian Institution legally has the original on exhibit.
Draper taught more than 900 Tuskegee Airmen pilots how to fly and was one of the last living members of the initial class of the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
Due to his groundbreaking contributions that shaped history, the Roscoe Draper Chapter of Black Pilots of America was established in 1996. The Black Pilots of America is a not-for-profit organization that promotes African American participation in aviation and introduces youth to the different fields in aviation industries.
Roscoe D. Draper, a Tuskegee Airmen Flight Instructor, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. He was 105.
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