One of Arizona's last surviving Tuskegee Airmen passes away at 95

PHOENIX - One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen in Arizona has passed away at the age of 95, says a news release from the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Officials with the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen say retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Ashby passed away on Friday, March 5 at his Sun City home.

Ashby was the first Black man to be hired by Frontier Airlines after he served in the United States Air Force.

At the age of 17, Ashby enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program and was called to active duty in August of 1944. In December of the same year, he was sent to Tuskegee, Alabama to begin aviation training.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert Ashby, USAF, and Captain (Ret.) Frontier Airlines. Photo courtesy of the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

He graduated with the Tuskegee Class of 45-H on Nov. 20, 1945 and was assigned to be part of the US occupation of Japan.

"In 1952, Ashby flew combat in B-26s for a year while stationed in Korea. In 1956, he was assigned to England and flew the T-33, B-45, and B-66 aircraft. Later Ashby trained in the B-47 bomber and later served as a B-47 instructor. In July 1965, Robert Ashby retired as a Lt. Col. after twenty-one years of honorable service in U.S. Air Force. During his career, Bob attended the University of Maryland and UCLA college programs," the news release read.

Upon retirement, he began his commercial flying career with United Airlines as a flight operations instructor. In 1973, he was hired by Frontier Airlines as a second officer pilot, first officer, and then as captain.

Ashby was also the first Black pilot to reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 with a major airline. Bob Ashby retired on July 17, 1986.

Ashby is survived by his wife, Dorina and their three sons. Funeral services will be private because of the COVID-19 pandemic.