Page 17 - Desert Oracle June 2022

ONE OF TWO ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMEN IN ARIZONA DIES

Lt. Col. Asa Herring USAF, Ret; Fighter Pilot, Community Leader

The Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. is saddened to announce the
passing of our very own Documented Original Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Asa Herring. He was
surrounded by family, friends, and chapter members when he transitioned into the “Lonely Eagles”
early Friday morning, May 27, 2022.

Asa was born in Dunn, NC October 3, 1926. He was an avid aviation enthusiast all his life and
graduated from high school at the age of 16 years. While a student at Tuskegee Institute in the
Aircraft Maintenance Program, he passed the U. S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet written
examination. But because he was not of age, he had to wait until he was age 18 years old to be
inducted into the program.

On December 27, 1944, Asa entered active duty as a Tuskegee aviation cadet at Moton Field, AL,
and flew the Stearman PT-17 and AT-6. He was three months shy of completing graduation when
Germany surrendered, and World War II ended. The “Tuskegee Experience” was one of the
military’s flying schools that was scheduled to close. Consequently, only a few flying schools
remained opened to the Tuskegee cadets. Because of the segregation policies in the military, the
only other jobs offered the former cadets were cleaning or kitchen jobs. Thus, some of the cadets
opted to receive an Honorable Discharge and continue their education. The latter was the path that
Asa chose.

Some of the top-notch technical schools from which Asa graduated included Tuskegee Institute,
AL; Aeronautical University in Chicago, IL; and Lewis College of Science and Technology in
Lockport, IL. In 1959, he was awarded credentials by the Civil Aeronautics Administration as a
certified Aircraft and Engine Mechanic and as an Aircraft Ground Instructor. Despite this
extensive training, Asa was unable to obtain employment with an airline or as fixed base operator.
By this time, the Air Force had become a separate branch of the military, and President Harry S.
Truman enacted Executive Order 9981 to banned segregation in the military. Once again, Asa
Herring volunteered again for military service in the Air Force in June 1949.