Milton Crenchaw

Who is Milton Crenchaw?

Milton Pitts Crenchaw is the father of black aviation in Arkansas. He was the first Arkansan to be successfully trained by the federal government as a civilian licensed pilot. He overcame racism and bigotry to serve his country during World War II as a civilian flight instructor.

Crenchaw was born to Reverend Joseph C. Crenchaw and Ethel Pitts Crenchaw. 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 two siblings. He graduated from Dunbar High School in 1936. After graduating he attended Dunbar Junior College where he received a teaching certificate in auto mechanics. After leaving Dunbar Junior College, Crenchaw pursued a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Tuskegee Institute in 1939. He did not receive a degree, however because he postponed his academics to pursue becoming a pilot. Crenchaw was the first Arkansan to arrive and to graduate from Moton Airbase in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Crenchaw went from living the life of a college student to flying in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.