Virgil was farming when inducted in January 1943. He was originally accepted for pilot training but the programme was cancelled at that time and he was re- selected as a gunner/flight engineer. He flew on 16 combat and 12 supply missions with the group at Tibenham. He would never forget a mission to Kassel when his squadron - for some reason - failed to stay with the main bomber stream , they were isolated and attacked by a swarm of ME 109's. His aircraft was the only one which made it back to the home base. After returning to the States he was given the choice of becoming a cook or an MP and chose the latter. Discharged from the military in May 1946 he returned to farming.