Enlisted in the Army Air Corps in August 1941, earned his commission and pilot's wings and was assigned to the newly formed 92nd Bomb Group. He trained to pilot the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber and the B-17 Flying Fortress. He was the first to pilot a B-17 non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. He flew 57 missions between the 92nd and 94th Bomb Group. He met his future wife Thelma Smith of the Royal Canadian Army Nursing Corps, after hospitalization following a crash landing. Served as group commander of both the 331st & 332nd Bomb squadrons. He was known 'Big Bad Bill' . He originally served with the 91st BG in 1942 but transferred to the 94th BG when they arrived in England and stayed until the end of the war.