Columbus wings fourth generation officer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaleb Snay
  • 14th Flying Training Wing
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 14-12 graduated 21 new pilots into the U.S. Air Force. Every pilot earned their wings after a long year of aviation education. One of those pilots has not only earned his wings, but has become the fourth generation pilot of his family.

Matthew LeCraw has come from a legacy of military pilots tracing back to World War I with his great grandfather Roy LeCraw, his grandfather C. Veazey LeCraw and his father Chris LeCraw.

"My grandfather was in the Army/Army Air Corps and fought during World War I," said Chris. "It was unfortunate he never got a chance to fly himself before he retired as a lieutenant colonel."

Roy LeCraw fought in four different conflicts including the Mexican Expedition, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. He planted the seed for the legacy in his son by serving, and C. Veazey LeCraw soon followed in his footsteps.

"I've been interested in airplanes all my life," said Veazey. "When I was little I used to build model airplanes. During World War II, while I was in high school, the Army said that anyone who signs up for flight training before they were 18 would be allowed to finish their school year before being called upon. I was a senior in high school at the time in 1943, but they called me up a couple months before I was supposed to graduate."

Veazey went into the Army in March 1944 as private and was sent to Keesler Army Airfield for basic training.

"There were a couple hundred people there to also get flight training," said Veazey. "Soon after training my title changed from private to aviation trainee LeCraw. I was then sent to Columbus Army Air Field where I had to wait for my flight training."

Veazey became part of Columbus Air Force Base history as he waited six months for flight training in June of 1944.

"When I got here, this place was nothing but army barracks," said Veazey. "Time has flown by, it's completely different now. My barracks used to be right next to the flightline, and I had to work gassing up airplanes and whatever else needed to be done."

After six months he then was moved to Harlingen, Texas, where he waited for flight training another year until World War II ended in 1945.

"Since the war was over my rank changed from aviation trainee back to private," said Veazey. "When the war ended there were 50,000 of us aviation trainees that were no longer necessary. I was soon discharged in November of 1945 as a corporal."

He later joined the Air Force after graduating college, and separated as a captain. He never got the chance to fly before separating, but while he never got to slice the skies himself his son, retired Lt. Col. Chris LeCraw, soon succeeded.

"My dad was my inspiration to fly," said Chris. "I was fortunate enough to get commissioned into pilot training and become a T-37 FAIP before I flew F-16s."

Chris graduated and commission into the Air Force in 1981, trained at Reese AFB in Lubbock Texas and became a pilot until retiring in 2001.

"I loved my experience as a military pilot. I'm glad I stayed in for 20 years," said Chris. "I had dad's World War II dogtags with me and I would often lace them into my boots; so every time I flew, he flew with me. Even though he never got to fly himself with the Army Air Corps, he got to fly with me."

Being a pilot became Chris' life. After he retired, he became an instructor pilot for a commercial airline. While life as a pilot made him appreciate life to its fullest, very little could make him happier than seeing his son pin on his Silverwings for the first time.

"When it comes to flying you got to study hard and train hard to be the very best pilot you can be," said Chris. "My son is now part of a legacy. Not just a legacy of pilots but also officers serving their country. We are very proud of Matthew. All of our paths were different but here we are. When we saw him getting his wings pinned on we were just beaming."

With such a firm history and caring family, 2nd Lt. Matthew LeCraw has a solid future in sight.

"I'm proud of our legacy. I've finally joined the pilot ranks," said Matthew. "It's no longer just something I talk about because it's actually happening now."

Matthew will be heading to Offut AFB soon to fly RC-135 Rivet Joint.