This Military Service Page was created/owned by
AB Raymond Guinn
to remember
Ashworth, Earl E., Lt Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Wilcoe, WV
Last Address Dayton, OH
Date of Passing Feb 04, 2009
Wall/Plot Coordinates Burial Unknown
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He enlisted in the Army Air Corp, graduated Cadet Training School, and served proudly with distinction, with the legendary Flying Tigers, in the 528th Fighter Squadron in China; that Squadron receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and Earl awarded the highest Air Corp/Air Force honor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and piloted virtually every heralded fighter aircraft used to achieve Allied victory. Following WWII, Earl test flew aircraft for the USAF, and served with a chosen few, to pilot the first jet aircraft produced, as well as an expert test pilot for North American Aviation. On January 20, 1951, he married his loving wife of 58 years, Jane Ann Mallay and shortly thereafter defended his country in combat during the Korean War, then rounding out his active duty service during the war in Southeast Asia (Vietnam). Lt. Colonel Ashworth, throughout his long career with the Army Air Corp and the United States Air Force earned among the following: The Distinguished Flying Cross, the WWII Air Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Asia-Pacific Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, to name a few; and was the only Air Force fighter pilot to receive the Army Commendation Medal. During the 1950s and 1960s, Lt. Colonel Ashworth piloted the array of fighter aircraft jets and was widely known as among the nations top fighter pilots. His last mission serving his country, was as a civilian, during the Cold War, where Lt. Col. Ashworth served as the Fighter Aircraft Attack SPO Director at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for 15 years, providing the Department of Defense with his vast knowledge of fighter aircraft tactics and overseas defense contracts with Americas allies and treaty partners. He also has the rare distinction of serving in high level posts during overseas duty assignments with both the European Allied Command the Pacific Allied Command. Lt. Colonel Ashworth was the last surviving Flying Tiger in the state of Ohio and maintained close friendships with his fighter pilot brethren, through annual reunions with his beloved 528th Fighter Squadron.
1952-1953, F-86 Sabre
From Year 1952
To Year 1953
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
F-86 Sabre Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model North American F-86D Sabre Length 37.50 ft | 11.43 m Width 37.07 ft | 11.30 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x General Electric J47-GE-27, turbujet engine generating 5,970lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 10,950 lbs | 4,967 kg MTOW 17,000 lbs | 7,711 kg Max Speed 690 mph | 1,110 km/h | 599 kts Max Range 785 miles | 1,263 km Ceiling 50,000 ft | 15,240 m | 9.5 miles Climb Rate 12,000 ft/min (1,344 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 2.75in rockets
External provisions for 2,000 lbs of bombs Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-86 - Original Army Air Force prototypes (3) * YP-86A - Re-engined with GE J47 turbojet. * P-86A - Redesignated from YP-86A * F-86A - Redesignated production model from P-86A; Featured J47-GE-1 turbojet. * F-86D - Complete redesign of base model; Redesignated as night/all-weather aircraft; Hughes fire control system; J47-GE-33 turbojet. * F-86E - Slab tailplane adjustable inflight; J47-GE-27 turbojet * F-86F - J47-GE-27 turbojet; Extended leading edges. * F-86K - Based on F-86D model with J47-GE-17B tubojet. * F-86L - Rebuilt "D" model with updated electronics and larger wing surface