Home › History › People › Captain Roger Vincent
(1913–Date of loss 1951)
World War II Pilot • Aviation Pioneer • United States Air Force Reserve
Photo restored by Herk Schmidt
Captain Roger Vincent was a decorated World War II aviator and one of Sandwich, Illinois’ most influential postwar aviation figures.
World War II Service
During World War II, Vincent served as a pilot in the China-Burma-India theater, flying missions over “the Hump”, the dangerous aerial supply route over the Himalayas. For his service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
His wartime experience placed him among the highly trained generation of American pilots whose skill and endurance sustained Allied operations in remote and hazardous regions.
Return to Sandwich
Following the war, Captain Vincent returned home to Sandwich. His commitment to aviation did not end with military service. He founded the Sandwich Airport and taught many local residents how to fly, introducing aviation to a new generation within the community.
He later became co-owner of Sandwich Motors, a Ford dealership located on Railroad Street, contributing to the town’s postwar economic growth.
Reserve Service and Recall
Like many World War II veterans, Vincent continued service in the United States Air Force Reserve. In March 1951, during the Korean War and early Cold War mobilization, he was recalled to active duty.
He departed Limestone Air Force Base, Maine, as a passenger aboard a United States Air Force C-124 transport aircraft bound for England.
The aircraft was lost over the Atlantic Ocean following a reported cargo hold fire. Despite an extensive multinational search effort, no survivors were recovered.
In March 1951, Captain Vincent was among the men lost in the Atlantic C-124 disaster.
See: Sandwich Airmen Lost at Sea
Captain Vincent was survived by his wife, Bette (Scott) Vincent, and their young daughter. His wife was expecting their second child at the time of his disappearance.
His life reflects both wartime courage and postwar civic contribution, a veteran who returned home to build and strengthen his community.
Captain Roger Vincent’s story does not end with his loss in 1951.
The aircraft on which he traveled , a C-124 transport carrying 53 men, was part of a broader Cold War deployment tied to Strategic Air Command. After a reported fire and emergency ditching in the North Atlantic, all aboard reached survival rafts. A passing aircraft located the group and relayed their position, but by the time rescue forces arrived, the men had vanished. Despite extensive search efforts involving ships, aircraft, and naval vessels, no survivors were ever recovered. Questions surrounding the incident, including the presence of Soviet naval activity in the region, have persisted for decades.
Facts at a Glance
• Name: Captain Roger Vincent
• Service: United States Army Air Forces (WWII); U.S. Air Force Reserve
• Theater: China–Burma–India (“The Hump”)
• Honors: Distinguished Flying Cross
• Postwar Role: Founder of Sandwich Airport; local flight instructor
• Business: Co-owner, Sandwich Motors (Railroad Street)
• Recalled to Duty: March 1951
• Final Mission: Passenger aboard USAF C-124 transport to England
• Status: Lost at sea, March 1951
• Family: Wife, Bette (Scott) Vincent; daughter Linda; second child expected
Continue the Story
Research & Sources
• United States Air Force reports on the March 1951 C-124 Atlantic incident
• Contemporary newspaper accounts, March–April 1951
• Family research investigations regarding the 1951 Atlantic C-124 loss
• Strategic Air Command historical summaries, 1951
• Wikipedia: 1951 Atlantic C-124 disappearance
• BAAA-Acro: Douglas C-124A accident record, March 23, 1951
• The Pampa News, “Lost in the Atlantic” retrospective article
For information about citation standards and research methodology used on this site, please visit the
Research & Sources page.