The 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen were honored in 2007 with congressional gold medals, but Rogers did not attend the ceremony.
After the war, Rogers opened up his own radio and appliance store in St. Petersburg and had lived there ever since.
He celebrated his 101st birthday in March and revealed he was surprised by his own longevity.
“This is a very, very, very happy thing,” he told The Ledger. “I thank my heavenly father for allowing me to see 101 because at 27 I never thought I would see 28.”
May you rest in peace, Willie. Your legacy will always be remembered.
For more on the Tuskegee airmen, click here.