I know a lot of Air Force pilots in the war did get married, but I am sure some made a conscious decision to. And maybe the opportunity to meet potential wives was more limited in some roles than in others, so that might have also played a part. An the death of his father and having to take over the farm probably put it put of his mind for a while, thinking that he had plenty of time still -neither of my brothers married until mid/late 30s.