the standard, regularly used, “B-24 Liberator Handbook”, which were initially published in theCzech language, and co-authored the classic, “B-24 Liberator in the RAF Coastal CommandService”. The first-rate author now lives in his homeland, the Czech Republic. He cogently laysout his entire Stewart storyline in the flap of his jacket, adding to our desire to learn more sinceprevious biographical sketches hardly introduce Jimmy’s dangerous 20 + missions over Germanoccupied Europe over the span of more than year. We learn that Captain Stewart was alwaysdetermined, NAY, insisted, upon flying the most dangerous missions under his command. “If myteam is going up, I’m going with them,” he informed his superiors.
Jimmy was already a Hollywood star when the United States went to war on 7 December
- After all, the year before, he had won the Academy Award as Best Actor for his role in“The Philadelphia Story”. Everyone knew who he was. Since he achieved a private pilot’s licenseearly on, when his name was drawn by the Draft Board in late 1940, he had applied to join theU.S. Army Air Corps. A month after war had been declared on Japan and Germany, he wascalled into active duty, and directed to the 929 th Bombardier Training School at Kirtland Field inNew Mexico, in August of 1942. Although his film company had gotten him a safe designationfrom battle-duty, Jimmy objected to the “static personnel” label and literally demanded to fly incombat like the other boys. Soon thereafter, he was surprised to find himself Commander ofthe 703 rd Bombardment Squadron. On 17 November 1943, his operational war began the dayafter he landed in England.With inspiring photos, we are privy to many of his bombing missions beginning on December13, 1943. On that date, he attacked the U-boat facilities at Kiel. A week later, he was assignedwith other B-24s to bomb the port at Bremen. In tense, near perfect narration, Pavel describes18 additional missions until the end of the war, fifteen months later. His targets spanned all ofGermany, including Berlin. What a joy to read while perusing photos of the “Liberator” hecommanded and the men he served with. Surprisingly, his contribution to victory also includedserving as an Operations Officer for a period, leading the Liberators of the 2 nd Combat BombWing to an attack on the German marshalling yards at Halle. On that dangerous flight, he sat onthe navigator’s seat of a de Haviland “Mosquito”. He rose to the rank of major from private injust four years; was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with three oakleaf clusters. The French bestowed him with the Croix de Guerre with palm. The finalfew chapters describe his way home, then after the war as a lieutenant colonel whoimmediately went back to the job he loved, a kind and good actor with words and guidance tohelp countless others via the silver screen. James Maitland Stewart became the highest-rankingactor in American military history. And, for that reason alone his life is as inspiring as it can get
and worthy of a lengthy wholesome read.
