Brigadier General Jimmy Stewart (later Major General)
Academy Award – 1941, “The Philadelphia Story”
Private Pilot License – 1935
Enlisted in the Army in March 1941. He became the first major American movie star to wear a military uniform in World War II.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant – Jan. 1942
Instructor –B-17s – 1942
Assigned to the 445th Bombardment Group – August 1943 as Operations Office then as Captain, Commander. Flew B-24s on missions over Germany, including the October 14, 1943, bombing mission to Schweinfurt, which was the center of the German ball-bearing industry. This mission is known in USAF history as Black Thursday due to the high casualties it sustained; 60 aircraft were lost out of 291 B-17s dispatched unescorted to Schweinfurt. Promoted to Major while assigned to the 445th. Official number of missions “20”.
Reassigned to 453rd Bombardment Group – March 1944. Flew as Command Pilot in the Lead Bomber on numerous missions, these were not counted per Stewarts orders.
Received the Distinguished Flying Cross twice.
Awarded the Croix de Guerre.
Received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
In July 1944, after flying 20 combat missions, Stewart was made Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force, and though he was no longer required or expected to fly missions, he continued to do so.
Was promoted to Colonel before the war ended.
In 1966, Brigadier General James Stewart flew as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on a bombing mission during the Vietnam War.
Retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1968 after 27 years service.
Promoted to Major General by President Ronald Reagan
Information from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart More info at the site.