Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot, by Starr Smith (2005)

Starr Smith exposes a side of Jimmy Stewart that many people have never seen. Apparently, the famous actor from Indiana, Pennsylvania wanted it that way. Smith, who worked with Stewart when the two were stationed in Tibenham, England, with the 453^rd Bombardment Group, offers a flattering portrayal of the Hollywood star.

Over the objections of his boss at MGM, Stewart volunteered for service after being drafted and failing a physical (he was too light under the military’s height to weight ratio). The actor wanted to be more than a stateside trainer of bomber pilots in the Army Air Corps and he had to find his way around someone in the military brass, who didn’t want a famous actor to be lost in the fighting. In the end, Stewart was allowed to fly on some of the missions he helped to coordinate. He would go on to fly 20 combat missions on his way to numerous honors including six battle stars and the French Croix de Guerre.

As Stewart rose through the ranks, he proved to be a hard-working leader and strategist. Aged 32 when he began his military service, the airman was often 10 or more years older than the pilots he commanded. His mild, folksy demeanor, his attention to detail and his skill as a flyer won him respect among the enlisted men.

Stewart’s efforts did not go unnoticed by the officers’ corps either and he eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General. Smith was privy to some of the rumors that the actor would eventually earn the crucial rank of group commander. However, the war was over before such a plan would be carried out.

Upon his return, Stewart insisted that he receive no attention for his service. He even refused a homecoming parade, a decision that greatly disappointed Indiana community leaders. Stewart allowed a museum to open with his name there some 50 years later, but only after he was convinced that the landmark would stimulate the local economy.

There are some aspects of Stewart’s family life and post-war career here, but the bulk of the book covers his military service from 1941 to 1945. Smith’s account will appeal most to fans of Stewart and to those who appreciate personal accounts of military history.