Professional Pilot, December 2018

David Bjellos is the Aviation Manager for Florida Crystals flying a GIV SP S 76C and Bell 407 He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Helicopter Association International HAI PROFESSIONAL PILOT December 2018 69 After his successful enlistment and after the minimum weight ordeal Jimmy was trained on B 17s at Gowen Field in Boise Idaho and commissioned a second lieutenant He had to beg to see combat as his commanders wanted safe assignments for the now famous actor But he would have none of it and eventually commanded the 445th Bomb Group in Norfolk England as a major and soon became the commanding officer of the unit All his European theater flights were in the B 24 He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944 presented by General Jimmy Doolittle Stewart remained in the US Air Force after the wars end and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1959 He remained current in all the new aircraft of the time including the B 36 Peacemaker B 47 Stratojet the aircraft he flew as Dutch Holland in the movie Strategic Air Command co starring with June Allyson and the B 52 Stratofortress He also had the privilege of flying the B 58 Hustler but not operationally His skills as an airman and his public persona helped immensely to win over the public perception with him at the controls of the new and expensive supersonic bomber The Air Force was not shy about using his fame and easy smile to keep community sentiment high He flew the last combat mission of his career on the B 52 with the 454th Bombardment Wing on a 12 hrs 50 min Arc Light mission over Vietnam on February 20 1966 Jimmy began acting during the true heyday of Hollywood He worked alongside Humphrey Bogart Carey Grant Henry Fonda Spencer Tracy and all the leading ladies of the time and his list of arm candy included Ginger Rogers Olivia de Havilland Marlene Dietrich and many others He was known as the most eligible bachelor in Hollywood until at the age of 41 he was introduced to Gloria McLean at a dinner party hosted by Gary Cooper Jimmy married Gloria and had 2 children of their own and 2 from her previous marriage During the nationalistic days of the 1950s and 60s Jimmy remained a staunch Republican and later campaigned and supported his fellow actor Ronald Reagan in his bid for the presidency he also campaigned for Richard Nixon Only once did his anger over politics get the better of him and he got into a vicious fist fight with his old roommate Henry Fonda over dogmatic ideals Bruising only their egos they made up privately and remained friends until Fondas death Stewart related many years later that after their disagreement they simply avoided certain topics Stewart was quoted as saying Our views never interfered with our feelings for each other we just didnt talk about certain things In addition to his 5 Academy Awards for acting Jimmys accomplishments as an airman include rising from the rank of private to Brigadier General the DFC the Croix de Guerre Air Medal and numerous wartime awards and decorations Acting may have helped Jimmys outward public persona but he lived his life as he was raised one of a simple Presbyterian work ethic including hard work and low expectations of being cared for by the government And he raised his family along the same lines Sadly his stepson Ronald USMC was killed in Vietnam in 1969 only weeks after Stewart and Gloria wrapped up a USO tour Like most parents the loss of a child was an event they never fully recovered from Jimmy Stewart flew west on July 2 1997 at the age of 89 The airport in Indiana Pennsylvania about an hour east of Pittsburgh is named after him General Jimmy Stewart flew his last mission with the USAF on Feb 20 1966 on a B 52 Arc Light mission over Vietnam Arc Light missions were utilized to reduce the incursion of North Vietnamese Army regulars into South Viet Nam through heavy bombing The B 52D and F models were fitted with up to 108 bombs internally and externally and often flew in 30 ship groups on missions After the war Stewart bought several fighters including this P 51D named Mr Alex This photo shows pilot Joe De Bona at the controls prior to the Bendix race held annually and sponsored by Vincent Bendix Notice Stewart in stockings so as not to scuff the polished surface of the wing to avoid creating drag Lt General Henri Valin awards the Croix de Guerre to Col James M Stewart USAAF 1945 The French Croix de Guerre Cross of War is a French Military award commonly bestowed upon foreign military forces Created in 1915 it can either be awarded to a unit or an individual for distinguished service for acts of heroism during combat with the enemy