When World War II started he was in the Philippine Islands and by April 1942 had flown 100 combat hours in P-40 Warhawk fighter aircraft. He also flew a salvaged US Navy Grumman J2F Duck nicknamed "Candy Clipper" delivering much needed aid to the besieged troops on Bataan and Corregidor. After the fall of Bataan he made his way to Australia and served with Army Air Forces units there until August 1942. He then returned to the United States for short tours in Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania before being sent to Europe in November 1943, where he took part in the Normandy, North France and Rhineland Campaigns.