pagesofhistory
Hollywood Hero
Jimmy Stewart didn’t just play the hero in movies — he was
one. Stewart fl ew bombing missions over Germany in World
War II, never taking the easy mission.
A
ctor James M. Stewart was his successful Hollywood
honored for his military service career to be an $80-a-month
at the Jimmy Stewart Centennial private: “It may sound
Celebration May 24 at the Jimmy Stewart corny, but what’s wrong
Museum in Indiana, Pa. Offi cials from the with fi ghting for one’s
11th Wing at Bolling AFB, Washington, country?” Stewart asked.
D.C., and Air Force Reserve Command
members participated in the celebration Honoring Pigeons
in Stewart’s hometown.
B
efore the days of
Col. Terry Ross, the 11th Wing vice radio and satellite
commander, presented Kelly Stewart communication,
Harcourt and Judy Stewart, the actor’s military commanders relied
daughters, with two Distinguished Flying on the pigeon. The role of
Crosses and four Air Medals their father those pigeons in protecting
earned for combat missions he fl ew. They soldiers was honored May
also received their father’s French Croix 31 at a ceremony at Cantigny
de Guerre with Palm decoration. Park, outside Chicago. The
Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps date also marked the 90th
in 1941, weeks after receiving the Best anniversary of the Battle of Cantigny, Then-Maj. James
Actor Academy Award for “The Philadel- the fi rst U.S. offensive sustained in M. Stewart,
phia Story” (1940). He received his fi rst World War I. USAAF, center, dis-
Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a The celebration included exhibits cusses mission details
bombing mission over Germany that met highlighting the birds’ wartime actions with fliers before they
heavy Luftwaffe fi ghter attacks and anti- and a release of homing pigeons in take off from Eng-
aircraft fi re Feb. 20, 1944. He climbed to the sky. In wartime, pigeons carried land April 19, 1944.
the rank of colonel during the war, and messages in small canisters attached
later became a brigadier general in the Air to their legs, and some even were fi tted
Force Reserve. with cameras to take photographs
Ross quoted Stewart’s own words to of enemy positions. The birds were
explain why the famous actor risked carried into battle and would instinc-
tively fl y back home.
THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
One pigeon, Cher Ami, or “dear
a73 On Sept. 25, 1775, Continental Army Col.
friend” in French, is credited with saving
Ethan Allen was captured by the British after
the lives of about 200 American soldiers
aborting an attack on Montreal. Allen was sent to
in the 77th Infantry Division by deliv-
England to be executed but returned to the U.S. in
1778 as part of a prisoner exchange.
ering messages across enemy lines in
France in 1918. MO
PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 1 1 3
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