Jimmy Stewart-thoughts

[Nathan]

I find it amazing the aviation career Jimmy Stewart acheived. Having a long career in the air force and being one of the great stars of Hollywood. Where did the guy find the time? A great example for sure. Born and bread in my state of Pennsylvania!

From wikipedia: "A shy child, Stewart spent much of his after-school time in the basement working on model airplanes, mechanical drawing and chemistry—all with a dream of going into aviation."

One of the Dean Martin roasts that hosted Jimmy Stewart. In the form of Foster Brooks making fun of Mr. Stewart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOhNHYcfZI

[Chappie]

I read his book- Bomber Pilot. 19 missions in B-24s and then flew his 20th combat mission as an observer in a B-52 over SEA. I believe he also earned his Mach 2 pin in a TB-58 Hustler.


Chappie

[the330thbg]

Those old Foster Brook skits make me laugh so hard I pi$$ my pants.

Funny, funny stuff.

Stewart was a total standup man for certain.

Other actors served but stayed out of combat.

Not this man!!!

[JohnB]

Before the war Stewart had a Stinson 105.
On the 1970s I saw him in a play in London's West End (their Broadway).
The program's bio on Stewart it said he still owned a Super Cub.
Anyone know more on his GA flying?

He was THE man!

BTW: wasn't Foster Brooks a AAF pilot? I know George Gobel (another staple in the "roasts") was. IIRC, Gobel was an instructor and he mentioned it on The Tonight Show.
He told Johnny that because of him, "No Japanese made it past Tulsa".

[Nathan]

BTW: wasn't Foster Brooks a AAF pilot? I know George Gobel (another staple in the "roasts") was. IIRC, Gobel was an instructor and he mentioned it on The Tonight Show.
He told Johnny that because of him, "No Japanese made it past Tulsa".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFlsYUkMHW0

[mustangdriver]

Every time I think of his aviation career, I think of that scene in Strategic Air Command when he is on the ball field, and the B-36 flies over.

[Pat Carry]

Every time I think of his aviation career, I think of that scene in Strategic Air Command when he is on the ball field, and the B-36 flies over.

Yes, a great scene. What a unique sound the B-36 made. We just watched my favorite Jimmy Stewart movie the other night, "Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation". Funny stuff! All around he always seemed to be a first rate guy.

[The Inspector]

I used to love the Gobel story where he would recount how he hated oh dark thirty 'ALERTS' and bought and trained a chimp to start and taxi his P-51.
Everything went great, the horn would blow, he'd hear all the aircraft fire up and taxi around while he just burrowed deeper into his mattress then he'd hear them return to their hardstands, one night the entire wing took off-and he never saw the chimp again.

Every time he told that story on TV Carson would fall off his chair.
Me too! I ALWAYS crank the volume during that B-36 scene, 2 four foot tall speakers can really rattle a room when cranked to 11

[Enemy Ace]

I thought the chimp ended up as the squadron CO or wing commander??

[Cherrybomber13]

Gobel was a B-26 Flight Instructor in Tulsa during the war according to him in an interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_dzmB0Xot4

[Adam Kline]

I had the pleasure of meeting him in 1984 after the Rose Parade that he was the Grand Marshal in. I helped him out of the car. He was really deaf and what was so funny was any question I asked him his wife would repeat only louder. LoL it was like talking with an echo.

[PbyCat-Guy]

My grandfather's favorite photo was of him and stuart in new mexico when the trained together squating over a hole in the ground to pinch one off. I admire the guy

[CoastieJohn]

Good link about Hollywood movie stars who served during WWI, WWII, Korea and VN. Even had something in here about Jimmy Stewart (his son) I didn't know. Also didn't know about, Nancy Culp aka Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverily Hillbillies.


http://www.palletmastersworkshop.com/flipside.html

[David Legg]

James Stewart also owned a Wright Cyclone-powered Catalina (N19Q, ex-BuAer34030) which came to a sticky end off Monte Carlo in August 1972 after the hull was holed on landing and it sank. I've never done research to ascertain if he was on board at the time but would be interested to know.

[tom d. friedman]

stewart was definetely cut off of a different piece cloth compared to today's coked out, wacked out movie stars.