Prior to attending Tuskegee, Roberts obtained his pilot's license in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. In July 1941, Roberts was the first cadet accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps' aviation cadet training program with the Tuskegee Airmen's first class of aviation cadets, Class 42-C-SE, Roberts graduated from aviation cadet training with Captain
Benjamin O. Davis Jr., future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general; 2nd Lt.
Charles DeBow Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968); 2nd Lt.
Mac Ross (1912-1944), and 2nd Lt.
Lemuel R. Custis (1915 – 2005). During World War II, Roberts was assigned to the
332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, becoming its first African American commander on June 1, 1942. His squadron served in both North Africa and Italy. He also commanded the entire 332nd Fighter Group before Benjamin O. Davis. After World War II, Roberts served as the senior Air Corps ROTC instructor at
Tuskegee Institute. In 1950, Roberts became the first African American
U.S. Air Force officer to command a racially-integrated unit at
Langley Air Force Base. Roberts served during the Korean War, and was stationed in Okinawa. In 1963, Roberts served at Griffiss Air Force Base, managing the U.S. Air Force's ground radar troops. He also served at McClellan Air Force Base. In 1968, Roberts retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel. Across his entire career, Roberts flew over 100 missions in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. As a civilian, Roberts worked as a credit officer, training officer, and personal banking officer at Wells Fargo in Sacramento, California. He retired from Wells Fargo in 1982. ==Death==