Enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and trained as a B-24 Radio Operator.  In 1944, during a raid against an oil refinery near Vienna, He was forced to "Bail Out" of his B-24 Bomber.  He became a German POW, being held captive in Berlin until liberated by the British in 1945.  Chief Airey retired from the Air Force in 1970 after serving for 28 years. In a letter to "Bud" Vaughn dated 24 March 1998, He Wrote:        



Picture courtesy of :  Air Force Sergeants Association