Warbird Information Exchange

Jimmy Stewart's Military Career

Anyone have any interesting stories? I have read a bit here and there, but seems to be a few open areas that are not covered in books. Was he just a very priviliged celeb that rose in the ranks? or did he actually have the right stuff to last in the military and rise to a General?

Any imput?

He deserved it all as far as I'm concerned.

A very interesting topic. There are two books out at the moment that provide interesting alternate viewpoints. One, 'Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot' by Starr Smith says that he would probably have commanded a Group had the war continued much longer, the other ('Jimmy Stewart: A Biography' by Marc Eliot) says that he was completely burned out and close to complete breakdown by the end of the war.

Regardless, he flew 20 combat missions, rose to the rank of Colonel in the regular USAAF (and Brigadier General in the USAF Reserve post-war), and seems to have been well respected by those he served with. Certainly someone with 'The Right Stuff', I'd say.

As the Aircraft Commander, it was Captain Stewart's perrogative to name his B-24H.

Most bomber pilots, with little input from the rest of the crew, chose their girlfriend, mother, hometown or state when it came to aircraft naming rights.

In Stewart's case, he chose the name "Tenofus", reflecting the ten person crew his Liberator carried!

I do not know what else you can say about the man's tremendous character when you hear a story like that!

Cheers,
Tom Walsh.

stewart paid his dues, he didn't use his celebrity status to buck the training, speed promotions, b.s. etc. an officer & a gentleman all the way.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Very true, and he wouldn't allow his war and/or military record to be used for showbiz publicity purposes either.

He had to fight his way into combat from what I understand. The AAF wanted him to make films for training
and morale purposes, but after a while he pushed for a combat assignment. Perhaps Mike or someone
else who has either of those two biographies can provide more particulars.

Here's a photo that was on epay sometime back, showing Stewart and his crew while he was with the 445th BG.



Whether he was close to breaking down or not, he certainly did look a bit haggard. But I think half the guys in
the Eighth looked like this at one time or another!



Stewart also flew another B-24 named 'Male Call' while with the 453rd BG. You can see some images of that
ship on B-24 Best Web. It's the second listing.

Not too long ago I bumped into someone online whose father was a USAAF instructor. This fella said that his
dad would always say that his claim to fame was the fact that he had trained Stewart in the Air Corps.
I don't recall if he had any specific information or stories or the like, but I'll try to dig up the material he
had, if I can.

Ironic that the sterotype image of the war hero has generally been John Wayne, who didn't fight.

Then there is Stewart, who had to work at it to make weight just to get in. An Oscar to his name and one who could have avoided it, and he went in and did the job leading from the front.

His first Mission was to Germany in December 43. He flew 3 missions to Germany during Bigweek and went to Berlin in March 44. He was in the thick of it, taking the same risks at a time when the life expectency of bomber crews wasn't great, before the Allied escorts were there in numbers.

He didn't have to do it and did it. That speaks volumes to me. No deferments for him, no excuses.

An amazing man, who didn't let anyone use his service for publicity either.

Now compare him to todays "Hollywood Heros". I will say a few of of todays so call heros have gone on USO tours.

just think what his crewmates must have been thinking............. here is a hollywood big shot amongst ordinary joes....... i think that speaks for itself!!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Guys like Stewart and Wayne Morris are bigger heros
to me that CY or PB will ever be

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Don't touch my junk!!

A friend of ours was an Ordnance Officer in the 445th. Wayne told us that Stewart was just about the best airplane commander (and Squadron Commander) he ever saw. He was a born leader that never let his civilian career get in the way of his duties with the Group.

As to being "burned out", he was transferred to the 453rd Group in March of '44 and became Group Operations Officer. He surely wasn't afraid to work under pressure, but being involved in sending young men into combat every day would certainly wear a man down.


A true patriot!

He's always been a bigger hero to me than Wayne. I always felt like he played much stronger characters, and more believably. I've known about his flying during the war for quite a while, and I always thought I would be grateful to have flown under him.

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

Plus, Stewart was no spring chicken, either. He was in his mid-30's when he was flying combat. Not a lot of pilots were over 25 or so, I don't think.

Dave

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-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team

Just a little tidbit ... Stewart went through B-47 school at Barksdale AFB, La. I've seen more than a few pics of him at the B-dale Officer's Club as well.

Wade

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