what did james stewart do in ww2

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What did James Stewart do in World War 2?

actors who served in the military during ww2

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Did James Stewart serve in the military?

Legendary actor Jimmy Stewart piloted a bomber over Germany and retired after a lengthy military career. Jimmy Stewart is arguably the only prewar American actor of superstar magnitude to have served in a sustained combat role during World War II, and the only one to have served in a position of command.

What are the major issues of WW2?

• World War II was the bloodiest conflict in human history, with up to 85 million people killed.
• WWII pitted the Allies, led by the U.S., the U.K., France, and the Soviet Union against the Axis, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan.
• Unprovoked attacks against the U.S. ...
• WWII officially began on September 1, 1939 and ended on September 2, 1945.

What aircraft did James Stewart fly?

We’re told that Stewart joined the Mach 2 club when he flew a Hustler. Of course Stewart was still in The Air Force Reserve when the film was made and there is plenty of documentation of his flights aboard Convair B-36 Peacemakers, Boeing B-47 Stratojets, and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He may actually have flown the B-58 before he retired from the Air Force in 1968.

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How many missions did James Stewart fly in ww2?

20 combat missionsHe began flying combat missions and on March 31, 1944, was appointed Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group and, subsequently, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat wing, 2nd Air Division of the 8th Air Force. Stewart ended the war with 20 combat missions.

Where was James Stewart in ww2?

James "Jimmy" Stewart, the Hollywood movie star, was group operations officer at Old Buckenham during the spring of 1944. Stewart's fellow actor Walter Matthau was also based at Old Buckenham. The 453d Bomb Group flew its last combat mission in April.

Was James Stewart a pilot in ww2?

A licensed amateur pilot, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after the US entered the Second World War in 1941. After action in Europe, he attained the rank of colonel and received several awards for his service.

What did James Stewart do as part of the war effort?

Instead, he volunteered for combat service. Stewart spent 22 months with the Eighth Air Force in Britain. Assigned to command a squadron of Consolidated B-24 Liberators, he flew a total of 20 bombing sorties, including some over Berlin. Not content simply to fly missions, however, Stewart also planned and led them.

What bomber did Jimmy Stewart fly in ww2?

B-52H Stratofortress 2nd BW, 20th BS, LA/60-0008 “Lucky Lady IV”. Assigned to the 445th BG as operations officer, Capt Stewart flew B-24s from Tibenham, in Norfolk, leading the group during a 1000-bomber raid against Berlin on Mar. 22, 1944 and rising to command the 703rd BS.

What were Jimmy Stewart's last words?

“I won't fight God if he wants to take me.” Stewart uttered his last words about his late wife: “I'm going to go be with Gloria now.”

Was the B-52 used in ww2?

As for the Germans, the Luftwaffe lost one-third of its daytime fighter force in a single week in February 1944. Now just imagine 60 B-52 bombers shot down in one day. Or even 16 aircraft, which would be 28 percent of the Air Force's current fleet of 58 B-52Hs.

Did Jimmy Stewart own a p51 Mustang?

In 1999, Warren purchased what he believed to be a damaged P-51A in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. It was only later that he discovered that what he'd actually acquired were the mortal remains of Thunderbird, the iconic blue P-51C which Jimmy Stewart once flew in the Bendix Air Races just after WWII.

What did Jimmy Stewart do in the Air Force?

He began flying combat missions and on March 31, 1944, was appointed Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group and, subsequently, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat wing, 2nd Air Division of the 8th Air Force. Stewart ended the war with 20 combat missions.

What was Jimmy Stewart's rank in the military?

Stewart entered the Air Force Reserve and retired after 27 years of service with the rank of major general, the highest-ranking Hollywood actor to serve in uniform. The on-screen honest, straightforward and humble “everyman” persona audiences loved was the same off-screen.

Was Jimmy Stewart in a war movie?

The Mountain Road was the only war movie set during World War II in which he starred as a combatant. Stewart, however, had been featured in a wartime short, Winning Your Wings (1942) and in a civilian role in Malaya (1949).

Was Jimmy Stewart in the army?

Although World War II might have ended, Stewart stayed in the Army, and later the Air Force when it became an independent branch in 1947. He continued his service in the Air Force reserve, flying missions in B-52 bombers. He even flew as an observer on a bombing mission during the Vietnam War.

What rank was Jimmy Stewart in the military?

Stewart entered the Air Force Reserve and retired after 27 years of service with the rank of major general, the highest-ranking Hollywood actor to serve in uniform.

Was Jimmy Stewart in the military?

Although World War II might have ended, Stewart stayed in the Army, and later the Air Force when it became an independent branch in 1947. He continued his service in the Air Force reserve, flying missions in B-52 bombers. He even flew as an observer on a bombing mission during the Vietnam War.

Did John Wayne ever serve in the military?

Wayne never enlisted and even filed for a 3-A draft deferment, which meant that if the sole provider for a family of four were drafted, it would cause his family undue hardship. The closest he ever came to World War II service was portraying the actions of others on the silver screen.

Who is James Bubba Stewart wife?

Brianna ChavarriaJames Stewart Jr. / Wife

What happened to the first plane in the 445th?

Immediately after Dixie Flyer was hit, the first of several planes in the 445th went down in the hail of flak. Stewart could see as the wings of one B-24 under his command came off and the aircraft disintegrated midair. Only one parachute made it out as the rest of the crew plummeted. Perhaps it was in this moment that Stewart noted his crew’s parachutes were already sucked out of the vacuum in Dixie Flyer when the shell hit.

What aircraft saved the 389th?

American Thunderbolts and British Spitfires ended up saving the 389th that day, which still lost several planes and even more lives, but the tight flying of the 445th led the Luftwaffe to not even tangle with Stewart’s group. Ad – content continues below. It was the mission that earned Jim the rank of major.

What was Jim's role in the 445th?

Shortly after his run over Berlin, he reluctantly accepted a transfer to the 453rd in Old Buckenham. He effectively became a chief of staff there, briefing the crews of his new group, including on the bombing runs in June 1944 that paved the way for D-Day. To his regret, Stewart did not fly on any of those tactical missions.

How many aircraft did Stewart command?

Always from the copilot seat of a B-24 Liberator bomber, Stewart would command anywhere between 25 to 150 aircraft, depending on if he was lead, wing, or squadron commander. But even on the days he didn’t fly with the men he trained, he would brief his boys about the day’s missions.

How cold was the air at the bomb bay?

With the bomb bay doors open at 18,500 feet, the air was already 40 degrees below zero in a Bavarian February. After a 88mm shell nearly blew a hole between Stewart and pilot Neil Johnson’s feet, the temperature was dropping around their oxygen masks so quickly that ice began forming inside of the plane and on their gear.

What was Stewart's 10th combat mission?

It was the fifth day of the Eighth Air Force’s Big Week in February 1944, and Stewart was on his 10th combat mission in the air as either a group, wing, or squadron leader. This is what he left Hollywood for, circumvented Louis B. Mayer to participate in, and felt a lifetime of obligation to fulfill.

What was Operation Argument?

Operation Argument (aka “Big Week”) was the campaign the Eighth Air Force spent the winter of 1943/44 waiting on. In the span of six days, the U.S. military would drastically ramp up its daytime precision bombing campaign and cripple the Luftwaffe ahead of what would become the D-Day invasion.

How did Henry Fonda and Stewart become friends?

Stewart's fifty-year friendship with Henry Fonda began in Manhattan when Fonda invited Stewart to be his third roommate (in addition to Joshua Logan and Myron McCormick) in order to make the rent. When Stewart moved to Hollywood in 1935, he again shared an apartment with Fonda, and the two gained reputations as playboys. Over their careers, they starred in four films together: On Our Merry Way (1948), How the West Was Won (1962), Firecreek (1968), and The Cheyenne Social Club (1970). Both Stewart and Fonda's children later noted that their favorite activity when not working seemed to be quietly sharing time together while building and painting model airplanes, a hobby they had taken up in New York years earlier. Besides building model airplanes, Stewart and Fonda liked to build and fly kites, play golf and reminisce about the "old days." After Fonda's death in 1982, Stewart's only public comment was "I've just lost my best friend." Their friendship was chronicled in Scott Eyman's biography, Hank and Jim (2017).

How was the West won?

Next, Stewart appeared as part of an all-star cast—including Henry Fonda and John Wayne—in How the West Was Won, a Western epic released in early 1962. The film went on to win three Academy Awards and reap massive box-office figures. Stewart and Ford's next collaboration was The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). A classic psychological Western, the picture was shot in black-and-white film noir style at Ford's insistence, with Stewart as an East Coast attorney who goes against his non-violent principles when he is forced to confront a psychopathic outlaw ( Lee Marvin) in a small frontier town. The complex film initially garnered mixed reviews, but became a critical favorite over the ensuing decades. Stewart was billed above John Wayne in posters and the trailers, but Wayne received top billing in the film itself. Stewart, Wayne and Ford also collaborated for a television play that same year, Flashing Spikes (1962), for ABC 's anthology series Alcoa Premiere, albeit featuring Wayne billed with a television pseudonym ("Michael Morris," also used for Wayne's brief appearance in the John Ford-directed episode of the television series Wagon Train titled " The Colter Craven Story ") for his lengthy cameo.

What was James Stewart's first role at MGM?

TIME stated that "the chief significance of [the film] in the progress of the cinema industry is likely to reside in the presence in its cast of James Stewart" and The New York Times called him "a welcome addition to the roster of Hollywood's leading men.". Speed (1936) was Stewart's first top-billed role at MGM.

How many seasons did Stewart have in Hawkins?

Stewart in a publicity still for the mystery series Hawkins (1973), which ran for one season.

What was George Bailey's first role?

Stewart's first postwar role was as George Bailey in Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Although it earned him an Oscar nomination, the film was not a big success at first. It has increased in popularity since its release, and is considered a Christmas classic and one of Stewart's most famous performances.

What did Stewart do at Mercersburg?

At Mercersburg, Stewart participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. He was a member of the track team (competing as a high jumper under coach Jimmy Curran ), the art editor of the school yearbook, a member of the glee club, and a member of the John Marshall Literary Society.

Where did James Stewart live in 1932?

Stewart performed in bit parts in the University Players' productions in Cape Cod during the summer of 1932. The company's directors included Joshua Logan, Bretaigne Windust and Charles Leatherbee, and amongst its other actors were married couple Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan, who became Stewart's close friends. At the end of the season, Stewart moved to New York with his Players friends Logan, Myron McCormick, and newly single Henry Fonda. Along with McCormick, Stewart debuted on Broadway in the brief run of Carry Nation and a few weeks later – again with McCormick – appeared as a chauffeur in the comedy Goodbye Again, in which he had a walk-on line. The New Yorker commented, "Mr. James Stewart's chauffeur... comes on for three minutes and walks off to a round of spontaneous applause." Following the seven-month run of Goodbye Again, Stewart took a stage manager position in Boston, but was fired after frequently missing his cues. Returning to New York, he then landed a small part in Spring in Autumn and a role in All Good Americans, where he was required to throw a banjo out of the window. Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote, "Throwing a $250 banjo out of the window at the concierge is constructive abuse and should be virtuously applauded." Both plays folded after only short runs, and Stewart began to think about going back to his studies.

What group was the 445th Bombardment Group?

445th Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force. Below are some brief wartime facts related to the 445th Bomb

How many squadrons were in the 445th?

The 445th was comprised of 4 bomb squadrons (700th, 701st, 702nd and 703rd). In just under 17

What was Jimmy Stewart's military career?

Jimmy Stewart led a very successful career as a bomber pilot and command level. officer during WWII. This page is dedicated to the memory of Jimmy Stewart, his military career, and those who. served with him during WWII in the skies above Europe.

How many missions did Stewart do?

Stewart’s war record included 20 combat missions as command pilot over enemy territory, including raids deep into Germany to Berlin. He didn't fly the milk runs, and his missions. included bombing raids to Berlin, Brunswick, Bremen, Frankfurt, and Schweinfurt. His most.

What was the number of a draft for Stewart?

men between the ages of 20 and 36 to be drafted each year. Stewart’s draft number was 310.

When was Stewart commissioned?

In January 1942 Stewart was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then sent to Mather

Where did the Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force arrive?

Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force, he arrived in Tibenham, England. In March of

What was Stewart known for?

Stewart was also known somewhat for his poetry. He frequently would appear on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show and would read various poems he had written throughout his life. One of his poems, written about his dog, so moved Carson that, by the end, Carson was choking back tears.

What was the first movie that Stewart made after the war?

His first film after the war was Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life which, at the time, was considered somewhat of a flop with the public, though it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Stewart. Partially due to this film’s poor showing at the box office, Capra’s production company went bankrupt and Stewart began to further doubt his ability to act following the war.

What rank did Stewart get?

During combat operations over Germany, Stewart found himself promoted to the rank of Major. During this time, Stewart participated in several uncounted missions (on his orders) into Nazi occupied Europe, flying his B-24 in the lead position of his group in order to inspire his troops.

How did Stewart die?

constitution and the Bill of Rights as well as promote education. He died of a blood clot in his lung on July 2, 1997. Over his life, his professions included a hardware store shop-hand; a brick layer; a road worker; an assistant magician; an actor; an investor; a war hero; and a philanthropist. He also held a bachelors degree in architecture from Princeton.

What was the award that Stewart received as a child?

He was also the recipient of the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award, of which only 674 to date have been given out since 1926.

How many hours did Stewart fly?

Much to his chagrin, due to his celebrity status and extensive flight expertise (having tallied over 400 flight hours before even joining the military), Stewart was initially assigned to various “behind the lines” type duties such as training pilots and making promotional videos in the states.

Why was Jimmy Stewart rejected from the army?

In 1940, Jimmy Stewart was drafted into the United States Army, but ended up being rejected due to being five pounds under the required weight, given his height (at the time he weighed 143 pounds). Not to be dissuaded, Stewart then sought out the help of Don Loomis, who was known to be able to help people add or subtract pounds.

Why did the military use Stewart?

military preferred to deploy Stewart’s fame and widespread respect among the American population by using him for propaganda purposes, morale-raising exercises, and to encourage other young men to enlist. However, Stewart was persistent in requesting combat missions, and was eventually stationed in England where he led or took part in 20 bombing missions over Germany.

Why was Stewart removed from flying missions over Germany?

However, elements of the story — the claim that Stewart was removed from flying missions over Germany because he suffered from PTSD, and descriptions of him suffering nightmares of “men falling through the air screaming” — appear to be rather thinly sourced and not corroborated in other accounts of the actor’s military service.

Why did Jimmy Stewart get PTSD?

Actor Jimmy Stewart suffered what would in 2019 be diagnosed as PTSD due to his experience as a World War II bomber pilot.

Why was Stewart grounded?

But his wartime service came at a high personal price. In the final months of WWII he was grounded for being “flak happy, ” today called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When he returned to the US in August 1945, Stewart was a changed man. He had lost so much weight that he looked sickly.

What is the meme about Jimmy Stewart?

The version of events presented in the meme appears to have borrowed heavily from a 2016 book by the nonfiction writer Robert Matzen, called “Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe.” The book charted Stewart’s early career as an actor, his friendships and relationships, his family’s history of military service, his famously close and affectionate bond with his father, and his entry into military service during World War II.

What was Stewart's role in "It's a Wonderful Life"?

He took back to Hollywood all the stress that he had built up.”. In 1946 he got his break. He took the role of George Bailey, the suicidal father in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”. The rest is history.

Where did Stewart fly?

Stewart, now a Captain, was sent to England, where he spent the next 18 months flying B-24 Liberator bombers over Germany. Throughout his time overseas, the US Army Air Corps’ top brass had tried to keep the popular movie star from flying over enemy territory. But Stewart would hear nothing of it.

How many missions did Stewart fly?

In total Stewart flew 20 missions and the stress manifested itself physically and mentally.

What did Jimmy Stewart suffer from?

Actor Jimmy Stewart was haunted by his memories from his time in the Air Force and suffered from PTSD when he returned from World War II. Stewart wrestled with the guilt of killing civilians in bomb raids over France and Germany and felt responsible for the death of his comrades. Stewart never talked about his struggles and bottled up his emotions.

Why did Stewart get his pilot license?

Following the war, Stewart struggled to find work until director Frank Capra hired him for It's A Wonderful Life (Stewart pictured above in a scene from the film) However in his spare time Stewart was flying planes relentlessly and got his commercial pilot license so that he could join the Air Force.

Where was the 445th deployed?

According to 'Mission', Stewart and the 445th were deployed to Tibenham in East Anglia in England where they would carry out bombing raids on German targets.

How many planes did Stewart lose?

Stewart felt responsible for the death of his men and especially one bloodbath where he lost 13 planes containing 130 men who he knew well.

What was the name of the disease that Stewart was known for?

Pilots who flew with him said that became 'Flak Happy' during World War II, a term to describe what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Stewart wrestled with the guilt of killing civilians in bomb raids over France and Germany including one instance where they destroyed the wrong city by mistake.

What was Stewart's haunting memory?

Stewart was haunted by 'a thousand black memories' from his time as an Air Force commanding officer that he took with him back to Hollywood after the war. Pilots who flew with him said that became 'Flak Happy' during World War II, a term to describe what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

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