In July 1944 he was assigned to the 398th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force, in the European theater of operations, where he flew 35 combat missions in B- 17 s. He returned to the United States in March 1945 and was assigned to Pursuit Flight, 6th Ferry Group, Long Beach, California.

In July 1961 he became deputy commander for operations, 97th Bombardment Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark.

It was during this period that the wing, flying B-52 bomber and KC-135 tanker aircraft, was cited for its airborne alert operations during the Cuban crisis and subsequently presented with the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

In February 1968 he went to Southeast Asia as vice commander of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

He returned to the United States and in June 1969 assumed command of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

During his command the wing, famous for its aerial victories during World War II and the Korean War, continued to uphold its motto "Fourth But First" in testing and proving the Air Force's new "bare base" tactical mobility concept.