Harlan is a native of Dallas Texas and grew up in the Oak Lawn area. As a young man, Harlan worked at Sears, Roebuck and Co. He attended North Texas Agricultural College (now UTA.) When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Harlan already had his civilian pilot’s license. Harlan loved to fly so it was obvious that this is what he would try to do once the war started.
Harlan became a naval cadet and began his training at such places as the University of Georgia, the Dallas Naval Air Station and Pensacola Florida.
Harlan was assigned to the Naval Air Transport Command, VR-11. He flew the four engine R5-D Skymaster, which was the military version of the civilian C-54 aircraft. These aircraft had the very important duty to transport men and material to all four corners of the globe during World War II. And this Harlan did.
During the war, Harlan transported wounded, ammunition and other material vital to the war effort. Some of his exotic ports of call included Hawaii, Australia, the Philippine Islands, Guam, and other far flung bases too numerous to list.
The war ended finding Harlan once again transporting wounded to San Francisco California. He obtained his discharge from the Navy in November 1945 but stayed in the Naval Reserve until 1956.
Harlan flew for American Airlines after the war, as well as Pioneer Airlines that later became Continental. He also had careers both in medical sales and real estate. He lived in Clearwater Florida for 23 wonderful years, and now calls equally wonderful Fairview Texas home.
Harlan is really looking forward to visiting the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
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