Eugene earned a Private Pilot's Licence whilst still in High School and in 1943 enlisted in the AAC Aviation Cadet program., receiving his wings and being commissioned that December. Converted onto the B-24 and crewed up he flew to England via Trinidad, Brazil, Dakar and Morocco. Assigned to the 93rd he flew on 34 combat missions in 70 days from 30 May 1944, returning to the States in September 1944. He then attended Radar Navigation School and flew for a year at Victorville as First Pilot before being discharged in September 1945.