 He flew a Douglas B-26 Invader in combat, receiving three Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.After the war, the U.S. Air Force returned Pope to the United States as an Air Force instructor.In March 1954, Pope left the U.S. Air Force and joined a CIA front organization, Civil Air Transport (CAT), flying one of its Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars to supply French forces besieged in the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ in French Indochina.