John graduated from the La Junta Army Flying School on February 8, 1944.

 

The La Junta airport was opened in April 1940 as La Junta Army Air Field and was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces as an advanced flying school operating B-25 Mitchell two-engine bombers and Cessna AT-17 twin-engined advanced trainers. It was operated by the 402nd Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center. This airbase was created in World War II as a training base for B-25 pilots. At the peak of its service, approximately 100 aircraft were in use.

​