Willie Ashley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Willie Lee Ashley Jr. May 23, 1921 |
| Died | February 9, 1984(1984-02-09) (aged 62) Washington, D.C., US |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Omaha,Catholic University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1942–1981 |
Willie Lee Ashley Jr. (May 23, 1921 – February 9, 1984) was aU.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the332nd Fighter Group's99th Fighter Squadron, best known as theTuskegee Airmen.[1][2]
Ashley was the first African American U.S. military pilot to engage in aerial combat against an enemy combatant, sharing this honor with 99th Fighter Squadron pilots Sidney P. Brooks,Charles Dryden (Tuskegee Airman), Lee Rayford, Leon C. Roberts andSpann Watson who all engaged against enemy German fighter aircraft on June 9, 1943.[3]
Ashley was born on May 23, 1921, inCrocketville, South Carolina, inHampton County.[4] After graduating from Morris College High School, Ashley attendedHampton Institute, nowHampton University inHampton, Virginia.[5] While at Hampton, Ashley enrolled with the Civil Air Patrol's Civilian Pilot Training Program, earning his pilot's license.[6]
TheU.S. Army Air Corps admitted Ashley to its Advanced Flight School at Tuskegee Air Force Field. On July 3, 1942, Ashley graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-F, receiving his wings and commission as a2nd Lieutenant.[7][8]
DuringWorld War II, Ashley flew 77 combat missions over a 14-month period, including missions in North Africa, Sicily, and France. Though he was credited with two kills, the U.S. Army Air Corps did not credit Ashley for a third kill allegedly based on material provided by Shaw Air Force Base.[9]
On June 9, 1943, Ashley and fellow 99th Fighter Squadron pilots Sidney P. Brooks,Charles Dryden, Lee Rayford,Leon Roberts andSpann Watson became the first African American fighter pilots in history to engage in aerial combat.[10][11]
After World War II, Ashley returned to the United States and continued his military service as a member of theU.S. Air Force Reserve. In 1981, he retired from the military with the rank ofLt Colonel.
Ashley earned a bachelor's degree from theUniversity of Omaha and a master's degree in parasitology fromCatholic University. He also earned a PhD in radiation biology fromCatholic University.
On March 1, 1947, Ashley was initiated as a member ofKappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Alpha Eta chapter at theUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha.[12]
Ashley worked for theFood and Drug Administration, the USDepartment of Defense, and theEnvironmental Protection Agency where he retired as an administrator in 1976. He also served as a professor atHoward University, retiring in 1983 after experiencing serious health issues.
On February 9, 1984, Ashley died at the Georgetown Medical Center inWashington, D.C. He was interred atArlington National Cemetery, Section 65, Site 3622, inArlington, Virginia.[13]
