Foil: 1 Panel: 1 Column: 4 Line: 64

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Alfred (Al) Asch was raised on a small farm in Beaverton, Michigan. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1941 and with graduation as a pilot in early 1942, was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group with B-24 Liberators. He was soon flying bombing missions in the fall of 1942 with the 8th Air Force over Europe from England. After completing his combat tour with the 8th, he returned to the US and became part of the 455th Bomb Group with B-24s as an Operations Officer. His combat with this Group was flown with the 15th Air Force from Italy during 1943 and 1944.

Following WWII, Al held several positions and accepted a regular officer appointment in the US Air Force (AF) in 1949. He earned a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Al remained active as a pilot in the AF, earned his Command Pilot Wings and helped introduce automation to the Air Force starting in the early 1950s.

He retired as a full Colonel in 1968 and worked for more than 16 years as a Systems Engineer with the MITRE Corporation for the automation of air traffic control functions by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Awards and decorations: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Air Medal with 7 OLCs, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 OLC, Purple Heart, Unit Citation with 1 OLC, Air Force Longevity Service, and nine service and campaign medals with six campaign stars.

In July of 2003, Al celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his lovely wife, Naomi.