His Family…
Crenchaw was born to Reverend Joseph C. Crenchaw and Ethel Pitts Crenchaw at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1919. His father was a local civil rights leader with the NAACP who was president of the Little Rock Chapter during the Little Rock Central High School Crisis, and a professional tailor. His mother was a beautician. Crenchaw had three siblings. He graduated from Dunbar High School (the local black high school) in 1936. After graduating, he attended Dunbar Junior College where he received a teaching certificate in auto mechanics.
His Career…
Crenchaw went from living the life of a college student to flying in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). The CPTP was sponsored by the Army Air Corps. He was a flight instructor. After the start of World War II, there was a shortage of pilots. To combat this problem, then President Franklin D. Roosevelt, helped start a program to train more civilian pilots (thus increasing military preparedness). Crenchaw graduated in 1941 with his civilian pilot certificate from the Army Air Corps program sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
His Legacy…
Crenchaw has received numerous awards and certificates for his role as a Tuskegee Airman. Milton Crenchaw was a member of the now-defunct Judge Robert Decatur Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI). He has received thanks from many including Congressman Vic Snyder and President Bill Clinton Crenchaw was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1998. On March 27, 2007, he was honored by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe for his historic efforts as a Tuskegee flight instructor and service to his country.
