Background

Enlisted Army Air Corps February 28, 1942

Primary training; PT-17 Stearman, Oxnard, California

Basic training; BT-14 Vultee, Taft, California

Advanced training; AT-6, North American, Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona

Commissioned Pilot and 2nd Lt. October 30, 1942,
Class of 42J

Transition to P-38; Muroc Dry Lake November 1942

Aerial Submarine Patrol Duty; North Island NAS
San Diego, California

Combat P-38 Fighter Pilot:

March - July 1943
1st Fighter Group, 12th Air Force, North Africa
71st Fighter Squadron, Code Name: Doorknob
Call Sign: Doorknob Five-Two

50 Combat Missions:
Dive bombing, bomber escort, strafing,
destruction of enemy shipping and aircraft

Escapee/Evadee German Pow Camp,
Sicily, July 1943

Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, July 1943

Chief, Safety Education Division, Office of Flying Safety:
Developed Bailout Technique for P-38
Tested XP-80, America's first operational jet
Wrote and Illustrated:
Official Pilot Training Manuals for the
P-38, P-47, P-51, and P-80

Promoted to Captain, April 1944

Produced and Directed Army Air Corps Training Films:
How to Bailout of the P-38
Spin Recovery of the P-38

Promoted to Major, August 1945

Separated from Service, February 28, 1946