Robert Ashby (Tuskegee Airman): Difference between revisions

Robert Ashby
Born	Robert Ashby July 17, 1926 Homan, Arkansas, US
Died	March 5, 2021(2021-03-05) (aged 94) Sun City, Arizona, US
Resting place	Cremated
Occupations	Military officer fighter pilot
Years active	1944–1965

Robert "Bob" Ashby (July 17, 1926 – March 5, 2021) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer and pilot with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the famed Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or among enemy German pilots, “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen"). He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

Hired by Frontier Airlines in 1973, Ashby became one of the first few African Americans to work as a pilot for a major commercial airline. In his Frontier new hire class, Ashby trained with Emily Howell Warner, the first female to be promoted to airline captain. He was the only known, documented member of the Tuskegee Airmen to work as a pilot captain with a major airlines.

On March 29, 2007, Ashby and the collective Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award presented by U.S. Congress.

Early Life, Education, Family

Ashby was born on July 17, 1926 in Yemassee, South Carolina, Hampton County. As a child, Ashby delivered the local African American newspaper to earn money. He graduated from Ferris High School in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Years later, Ashby obtained college training with the University of Maryland and UCLA through the “on base” College Program.

Ashby was married to Dorina Ashby. They had three sons.

U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force Career, Tuskegee Airmen

At the age of 17, Ashby enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps's Aviation Cadet program. In August 1944, the U.S. Army stationed Ashby at Keesler Field in Mississippi for both basic training and entrance testing for the Aviation Cadet Program. In December 1944, the U.S. Army transferred Ashby to Tuskegee, Alabama for cadet pilot training on the Stearman PT-17, AT-6, and the B-25.

On November 20, 1945, Ashby graduated with the Tuskegee Cadet Pilot Class TE-45-H, receiving a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.

The U.S. Air Force transferred Ashby to Japan to aid in the post-World War II preoccupation. However, two all-white flying units refused to allow him to fly based on the unit's de facto racial segregation policies. He was later stationed in Korea and in Europe, serving as an flight instructor.

In July 1965, Ashby retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Commercial Airline Pilot Career

In 1965, United Airlines hired Ashby as a flight operations instructor, working on the team that developed its inaugural 747-flight training program. Unfortunately, the airline later furloughed Ashby under the “last hired/first fired” to reduce the airline's allegedly gloated pilot roster.

In July 1973, Ashby became the one of the first few African American to work as a pilot for a major commercial airline, Frontier Airlines. In 1963, African-American pilot Marlon Green won a landmark United States Supreme Court decision which helped dismantle racial discrimination in the American passenger airline industry. This case led to African American pilot David Harris' hire as the very first African-American pilot for a major airline in 1964. Green flew for Continental Airlines from 1965 to 1978.

In his Frontier new-hire class, Ashby trained with Emily Howell Warner, the first female commercial airline pilot Captain of a major commercial airline. While at Frontier, Ashby flew the Twin Otter, Convair 580, Boeing 737 and MD-80. In 1986, Ashby retired from Frontier Airlines with the rank of Captain. he is considered the first African American commercial airline pilot for a major commercial airlines to reach the mandatory retirement age of 60.

He was the only known, documented member of the Tuskegee Airmen to work as a pilot captain with a major airlines.

Death

Ashby passed away on March 5, 2021 in Sun City, Arizona. He was cremated. Ashby was one of three last-surviving Tuskegee Airmen living in the U.S. state of Arizona.