He enlisted reserve corps on 29 may 1942 and sought aviation cadet training On 3 November 1943. He entered active service as a second lieutenant and continued training in single engine aircraft. He departed the United States on 23 August 1944 to serve in the European Theater of Operations and returned on 1 August 1945. He was assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Recon Group, XIX tactical air command and flew 75 combat missions in P-51 aircraft. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart on 13 Oct 1944, and the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters. He served in the following campaigns: Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland and Central Europe, earning the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign medal with four campaign stars, American Campaign Medal and the WWII victory medal. He separated active service on 17 November 1945.