Like many young men of his time, Harold joined the RCAF in search of adventure, action and to escape the hard work that was western Canadian farm life in the 1940’s.

After completing basic training, Harold’s potential as an aviator was recognized and in 1943, he became a fully qualified pilot. With the rank of sergeant, he served as a pilot instructor at Air Force training stations in Edmonton, High River, Fort Macleod and Calgary, Alberta.

He also spent time as a flight instructor and staff pilot at Portage La Prairie and Rivers, Manitoba, as well as in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

During his posting at Saskatoon, he would occasionally fly over the family farm and “buzz” the family during training missions, an action for which he could have been severely reprimanded and which is still talked about during family reunions.

After training dozens of pilots for the war effort, accumulating 1,334 hours of air flight time, Flying Officer First Class, Carsten Harold Aasen was honorably released in October 1945. His medals and decorations include the Pilot’s Flight Badge and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.

In 1955, Flying Officer Aasen rejoined the RCAF reserve as a pilot and continued his service until being honourably released in 1958.