 He obtained a pilot 's license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program . Following his graduation , he signed up for the United States Army Air Corps and he enlisted after the attack on Pearl Harbor . He was commissioned on August 5 , 1942 , and was posted to the Pacific Theater of Operations where he joined the 394th Bomb Squadron , 5th Bombardment Group , of the Thirteenth Air Force . He flew Boeing B @-@ 17 Flying Fortress in an estimated 89 combat missions . After being rotated back to the United States he was promoted to Captain and became an air crash investigator . During his military career , he was involved in two plane crashes and was awarded both the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross . 
