Owensboro Living
Subscribe
  • Features
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Flavor
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Owensboro Living
  • Features
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Flavor
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Owensboro Living
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

Milton T. Hall: Unsung Hero

by Steven Wilson
January 3, 2021
in Features
0
0
Milton T. Hall: Unsung Hero
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Photo by Monica Smith

In a city with such a robust history, perhaps one of our greatest heroes remains largely unknown to many.  Memorialized with a highway bearing his name and a permanent display at the Owensboro Regional Airport, the story of Milton T. Hall is one we should all know and remember.

The beginning of the story takes us back to 1939, when Hall moved from Bloomington, Indiana to Owensboro. The Second World War had begun abroad, but it would be another two years before the United States entered the fray in December 1941.  Also in 1941, the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, already a training ground for black civilian pilots, was chosen by the United States Army Air Forces as the site for training black pilots for military duty.  Segregation was still the law of the land, and in addition to facing discrimination in employment and housing, black Americans could not even vote.  But the U.S. military faced a potential shortage of pilots.  And though enlisting black soldiers while denying them the right to vote was undeniably both hypocritical and exploitative, it also opened a door to a group of promising young aviators, eager to seize the opportunity and take to the skies.  Among those men was Owensboro’s Milton T. Hall.

Naively, many of those in power believed that black individuals did not possess the intelligence or skill to serve as military pilots. But that did not deter Hall or others like him who sought not only to enlist, but to excel. And in spite of misguided preconceived notions of their abilities from those in the military, as well as an overtly racist climate in the nation as a whole, Hall and his fellow black pilots proved all their doubters wrong. 

Though no one knew it at the time, these brave men would go on to become one of the most revered squadrons in U.S. military history – the Tuskegee Airmen.  Tasked with escorting bombers to protect them from enemy planes, the Tuskegee Airmen piloted P-51 Mustangs during raids deep into enemy-occupied territory.  With the tails of their planes painted red, they famously became known as the “Red Tails.”  In addition to being a “Red Tail” pilot, Hall also trained numerous other Tuskegee Airmen.

Courageous men like Hall went from being completely shut out of the military to becoming decorated war heroes that not only played a crucial role in their country’s victory, but blazed a trail for black servicemembers, and left a proud legacy for all who followed in their footsteps.

Tragically, Second Lieutenant Milton T. Hall died in an accident at age 27 on September 18, 1947, when his AT-6 plane collided with another plane during a practice exercise. During his brief life, both his achievements and the barriers he overcame to reach them were truly remarkable.  In our community, Hall also left an imprint through his involvement in the H.L. Neblett Community Center.  

After his death, Hall’s sister, Emily Holloway, carried on his legacy by retelling her brother’s story to students and historians.  In her own right, Holloway also made a lasting impact on Owensboro.  Beginning in 1992, she led the Greenwood Cemetery Restoration Committee, which worked to restore the 16-acre cemetery that was founded by a group of African American men in 1906.  Holloway was honored for her efforts in 1999 with a Mayor’s Award for Excellence.  Because of their contributions to our city, individuals like Milton Hall and Emily Holloway are truly Owensboro’s unsung heroes.

Next Post
Mural Creates A Lasting Legacy

Mural Creates A Lasting Legacy

Something to Look Forward to

Something to Look Forward to

How to Postpone Your Wedding

How to Postpone Your Wedding

FEATURED POST

The Pathway to Growth

March 1, 2023
Independence Bank Breaks Ground on Operations Center

Independence Bank Breaks Ground on Operations Center

July 12, 2016
Jeff and Sherrie Harris's white gothic farmhouse makes for a unique centerpiece in Daviess County.

Gothic Farmhouse

August 13, 2019

40 Years of Service to Daviess County

March 1, 2023

EDITOR PICK'S

100 Years of Owensboro Gardening

March 1, 2023

Serving Up Community Spirit 

March 1, 2023

What We’re Eating Now

March 1, 2023

Enhancing Dishes with Puff Pastry

March 1, 2023

Beware of Senior Scams

March 1, 2023

Head West for a Family Trip

March 1, 2023

9 Ways to Get Fit While Gardening

March 1, 2023

STAY CONNECTED

  • 1.7k Followers
  • 2.4k Followers
Facebook Twitter Youtube

Category

  • Culture
  • Events
  • Features
  • Flavor
  • From the Desk of
  • Lifestyle
  • People
  • Places
  • Senior Living
  • The Arts
  • The Buzz
  • The Dish
  • The Last Word
  • The Pulse
  • The Scene
  • The Style

Owensboro Living

2624a New Hartford Rd
Owensboro, KY
270-297-1600

About Us

OwensboroLiving.com is the companion to the bi-monthly FREE magazine, Owensboro Living magazine. Here, get news on your phone, tablet, or computer. No subscription is necessary!

Copyright © 2022 Owensboro Living Magazine, a Tanner Publishing Magazine. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Buzz
  • Features
  • The Pulse
  • The Dish
  • The Style
  • The Scene
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 Owensboro Living Magazine, a Tanner Publishing Magazine. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In