Outlaw was born to Mr. and Mrs. Needham Whitfield Outlaw on September 29, 1914, in Greenville, North Carolina.
After high school, Outlaw received appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he participated in track.
He graduated in 1935 as the youngest member of his class.

His first assignment was to the USS Indianapolis.
He was then ordered to flight training school and in 1938 was designated naval aviator.
Before the United States entered World War II, he served first as a member of USS Enterprise's Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) and then as Chief Flight Officer at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Outlaw was born to Mr. and Mrs. Needham Whitfield Outlaw on September 29, 1914, in Greenville, North Carolina. After high school, Outlaw received appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he participated in track. He graduated in 1935 as the youngest member of his class.
His first assignment was to the USS Indianapolis. He was then ordered to flight training school and in 1938 was designated naval aviator. Before the United States entered World War II, he served first as a member of USS Enterprise's Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) and then as Chief Flight Officer at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Edward Cobb Outlaw