Born August 27, 1918 in Torrance, California. He attended Chaffey High School, Ontario, Calif. and worked for Douglas Aircraft, Santa Monica, Calif. as an Inspector for the A-20 final assembly line and experimental department. He volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force in the early part of 1941. He received flight training at Polaris Flight Academy, Glendale, Calif. which was also known as Cal-Aero under the command of Major Mosley. Upon completion of flight training he was assigned to 53 OTU (Operation Training Unit) where he began flying Spitfires. From this station he was assigned to the 121 Eagle Squadron at Northwheel, England flying the Spitfire Mark VB in combat. On his 56th mission while escorting light attack bombers on the Dieppe Commando Raid he was shot down by a Focke-Wulf 190 with an incredible full-deflection shot!!! Fortunately he was able to bailout of the burning plane and landed in the Dieppe Harbor where he was rescued by the returning commandos. In the latter part of 1942 the 121 Eagle Squadron transferred into the U.S. Air Corps as the 335th Fighter Squadron of the Fourth Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force. The Group was equipped with P-47D Razor-Back. This was the first group to put the P-47 Thunderbolt into operation.