Started visiting the local airport North Grafton, MA in 1932 at age 14 offering to help. Continued until first flight instruction on Student Pilot Certificate No.43907, issued by the Bureau of Aeronautics, July 1936. Obtained CAA Private Pilot Certificate February 1939, Limited Commercial Pilot Certificate August 1939, CAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, August 1940. Flight Instructor on Civil Pilot Training Program from January 1941 to October 1942.
Obtained direct 2nd Lt. Commission in US Army Air Forces Air Transport Command at 3rd Ferry Group, Romulus, Michigan, March 1943. Served on active duty until February 1946. Status as AAF Reservist until AAF became USAF in 1947, then as USAF Reservist until June 1968, attaining rank of Major with Senior Pilot Rating.
Returned to local airport as Chief Pilot, Airport Manager, CAA Designated Flight Examiner for Private and Commercial Certificates.
September 1948, left local airport operation for employment at the David Clark Co. Inc. in Worcester, MA. Initial duty was development of patterns for Anti-G suits and Hi Altitude Partial Pressure Suits for USAF and US Navy. Became involved in Full Pressure Suit development with US Navy resulting in use of development model used by Marine Colonel Marion Carl to set altitude record in Douglas D558II in 1953. Follow-on Full Pressure Suit development with USAF for North American X-15 program.
Became Vice President, Research and Development and retired in 1986 after 38 plus years directing design, development, manufacture and field support for the U-2, A-12, SR-71 and NASA Gemini Aerospace Life Support Programs. Continued active flying until February 1994.