In 1942 at age 18, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. During a training mission over California, survived with the entire crew the crash landing of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. From Debach, England, from October 1944 through April 1945, as a 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress tail gunner, flew 32 combat missions over Europe. In February of 1945, while returning from a bombing mission over Germany, survived the crash landing of a B-17 Flying Fortress in Belgium. After WWII, served 3 years with Army of Occupation in Neubiberg AFB Germany. Served as C-54 Skymaster crew chief in Berlin Air Lift. Served in Greece during Greece Civil War. During the Cold War, served 6 years in the Strategic Air Command.



Served as tail gunner on B-17s: Flak Flirter, Miss Greenbay and Big Buster, all with pilot Harry B. 'Bud' Harris.



Jack is a Founding Member of the American Air Museum. Jack spent his 94th birthday, Monday April 16, 2018, giving tours as a docent at the Texas Air and Space Museum in Amarillo, Texas.