Born on December 2, 1909, in Dallas, Texas, General Harry Crutcher, Jr. was graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1931. He enlisted that October as an aviation cadet and a year later got his wings and commission. In July 1935 he went on active duty as a second lieutenant with the 73rd Pursuit Squadron and in August 1936 became a flight instructor at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. General Crutcher received successive promotions, reaching colonel by September 1943 as deputy wing commanding officer of the 313th Bomb Wing. He went to the Marianas in the Pacific in November 1944 as a staff officer and served until May 1945, earning a number of campaign ribbons and the Legion of Merit. In May 1946 General Crutcher was appointed director of operations and training at Randolph Field. A year later he went to Tyndall Field, Florida as deputy base commanding officer. He left the Air Force in September 1947 but joined the Texas Air National Guard two months later as commanding officer of the 136th Fighter Group at Hensley Field, Dallas. In May 1948 he was promoted to brigadier general and named commanding general of the 63rd Fighter Wing. In March 1950 he moved up to the position of Chief of Staff of the Texas Air National Guard and was promoted to major general in August 1956.
Reference:
DuPre, Flint O., Col. USAFR, USAF Biographical Dictionary (1965) – Crutcher, pp. 49-50.