In December 1943, during World War II, he went with the 368th Group to the European Theater of Operations as a pilot with the 397th Fighter Squadron.

He attended the Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth and in February 1946 returned to Seymour Johnson Field to be base adjutant.

From May 1946 to March 1948 Talbott served with the Organization and Training Division of the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C.

He was then assigned to the Directorate of Training and Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

In July 1954 Talbott became commander of the 322d Fighter Day Group at Foster Air Force Base, Texas.

While in that position, he won the 1955 Bendix Trophy race flying a North American F-100 Super Sabre C model.