Charles Malcolm Ashe, a multiracial American, was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina. He started flying in 1929 with Betsy Coleman in Chicago, became a flight instructor at Flying Dutchman Airport in Philadelphia, strewed ashes from his plane for a mortuary in Washington, D.C., started the first Air Cadet program at Lincoln University in Missouri, and served as a captain in the Army Air Forces during World War II as a primary flight instructor at Tuskegee Army Air Forces Base in Alabama. Later he became a mechanic at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. and Andrews Air Force Base, in Maryland. There he serviced Presidential planes and investigated airplane accidents to determine their cause.

Mr. Ashe had three children and three wives. He has eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. He was a lifelong learner always trying for another stage of improvement. Many early flyers remember his passionate love of flying and teaching others. The library at Fredricksburg, Maryland and the National Minority Military Museum in the Smithsonian hold his memorabilia.

Due to his leadership and encouragement, his son, Carl Malcolm Ashe surpassed his accomplishments in the Navy, private industry, and space programs. He and tennis Player Arthur Ashe were cousins, with both having the same grandfather, North Carolina Cherokee Indian Pinkney Ashe. Dad taught us to "fly by the seat of our pants."