Bert A. Betts was born and reared in San Diego, California. In 1942 he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the US Army Air Corps. When he had earned his wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant he was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 458th Bomb Group, 755th Squadron, Crew 76. He served as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot stationed in England. He flew 30 combat missions over Germany and enemy-occupied Europe, the last two taking place on D-Day. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He was also presented a Meritorious Achievement Award for completing an operational tour of duty consisting of 30 consecutive missions without once failing to complete a mission. All this before his 21st birthday.

After completing the required number of combat missions, he served as a pilot instructor and test pilot until the war's end.

In 1958 he was elected Treasurer of California. During his eight years as Treasurer of the State of California (1959-1967), Betts improved the operation of the office in many ways which resulted in great savings and earnings for California taxpayers. Betts is the only State Treasurer in America to have received the City of Louisville Award, conferred annually by the Municipal Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada upon the outstanding fiscal officer in those two nations.