He took part in 65 combat missions over France and Germany as navigator and bombardier aboard Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers in the 670th and 668th Squadrons of the 416th Bombardment Group.
After the war Forma studied at New York University at night while driving an electric delivery truck for the Ward Baking Company.
This began in 1954; when asked to document Helburn's auto racing efforts, Forma purchased a 16mm film camera, rented a helicopter, and did so.
His resulting film, Man and Car, received a positive reaction, setting the stage for his award-winning documentary series "Artists at Work".
The films were commissioned and aired by National Educational Television, CBS and ABC in the United States, and distributed throughout Canada, Australia, Japan and West Germany.