[centurion316]

Jimmy Stewart was a private pilot when WWII started. He had to fight the system to get a commission, but ended up as a squadron and group commander in England. Like most senior officers, he took his turn serving as a Command Pilot, leading formations for the 8th Air Force. My father in law was also a Command Pilot and flew with Stewart as well as participating with him in mission planning. senior leader conferences, etc. He said that Stewart was a good combat leader and never played the celebrity card.

[max americana]

Awesome story. I knew he shot Liberty Valance, not John Wayne ;)

[jagusafr]

And retired as a brigadier general. Pretty impressive.

[MomwithHope]

Nice post, thanks. My father in law was a captain/pilot in the 446th bomb group, flew out of Flixton and flew 35 missions. He was in the 706th.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Jimmy Stewart was a private pilot when WWII started. He had to fight the system to get a commission, but ended up as a squadron and group commander in England. Like most senior officers, he took his turn serving as a Command Pilot, leading formations for the 8th Air Force. My father in law was also a Command Pilot and flew with Stewart as well as participating with him in mission planning. senior leader conferences, etc. He said that Stewart was a good combat leader and never played the celebrity card.

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Wow, thanks for that story. Seems like that generation had a lot more adults than ours.

[mumblypeg]

Not only did he fly combat missions in WWII and Viet Nam, he lost a son in Viet Nam, too.