Heritage to Horizons: Student successful despite segregation

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  It was middle of World War II and America had begun the process of mobilization for the war. A young, black high school student named Robert Ashby wondered where he would fit into the process of war. Although a large part of the United States was no longer segregated, the Armed Forces were. 

While delivering the black newspapers to the black community as a means of earning money, Ashby read articles about the need for blacks to be included throughout the Armed Forces. 

"This was a continuous battle because of the strong opposition by many whites that espoused the idea that blacks were incapable of grasping anything but the most menial of tasks," Ashby recalled. 

After a long struggle, an experimental program to see if blacks were capable of learning to fly was established. Started in 1941 by President Roosevelt, the Tuskegee Airman program established an all African-American flight training program at the Tuskegee Institute of Alabama. 

"This was something I was looking to, so I immediately started gathering information about the program to see if blacks were capable of learning to fly," Ashby said. "I was not yet 18 years old, therefore, not about to be drafted, so I had time to plan how I could enter this program." 

Ashby began studying things about the theory of flight and weather and, as luck would have it, a class in aviation was offered at his high school and he immediately enrolled.
"I enlisted in the Air Corp Reserve to insure I wouldn't be drafted into the Army or Navy," he said. "Now all I had to do was to continue my studies and wait to be called to active duty after I turned 18." 

Ashby reported to Fort Dix, N.J., in July 1944, to begin processing for active duty. After testing and acceptance as an aviation cadet, he was transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala., to begin flight training. 

"I was thrilled and proud to be one of the few selected for the program," he said.
It wasn't until he arrived at cadet training that Ashby realized what he was trying to achieve. 

"I had never been near an airplane, didn't even know how to drive a car, in fact, I had only ridden in a car a few times," he said. "My usual means of transportation were bicycles, buses and subways." 

Ashby said the cadets knew that the program was experimental so they were determined to see the program succeed. 

"We helped each other, supported and encouraged each other to make sure we did succeed," Ashby said. 

After earning his pilot wings and being commissioned as a second lieutenant, Ashby went on to have an illustrious career in the military, serving in the occupation of Japan, Korea and finally in England, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1965. 

After retirement, Colonel Ashby became the first black commercial airline pilot to be hired by Frontier Airlines. Who, at the same time, hired their first woman pilot.
Colonel Ashby retired from Frontier Airlines in July 1986 as a captain flying the Boeing 737. 

Editor's note:
Lt. Col. (ret) Robert Ashby was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame during a ceremony Oct. 26 at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium in Phoenix. The 7th annual induction ceremony recognized 20 Arizona veterans who have honorably served their country through military service and who have continued to serve and inspire their fellow man with deeds and accomplishments throughout their lifetime.