All,
So, I was pondering the fact that Jmmy Stewart (yeah, the actor) was a B-24 pilot duing WWII. Does anyone have any information on the actually craft he flew? I have two B-24’s in my stash. Was pondering a little something different…building a model of his aircraft.
Just a thought.
-Ro
Found this on the interwebs:
Joined USAAC in 1940, was initially refused entry because he was 5 pounds under the required 148 pounds, but he talked the recruitment officer into ignoring the test. Eventually became a Colonel, 8th AF Sqn Cmdr 703 BS 445 BG, and Ops Officer 453 BG (&rt;456 BG), awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Croix de Guerre, and 7 battle stars. Flew B-52 and B-58 in Vietnam. In 1959, while in the USAFR, he was promoted to BrigGenl, the highest ranking actor in military history (but would not allow his war record to be used in movies or as publicity).
Served with the 8th AF, 453rd BG, 734th BS on “MALE CALL (V2)”…
He got one ride in a B-52 as a non-duty passenger in Vietnam, and he rode backseat in a B-58 in 1972 during the making of a movie for the USAF, but he certainly never flew either aircraft in duty.
If you haven’t, get “Strategic Air Command”. Alltime best footage of B-36s, and just hang in there through the June Allyson parts, the rest is worth the trip.
Not sure what scale you’re looking at, but here’s Male Call’s markings in 1/72nd: http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ILD72004
Technically, you’re correct as far as actual military paygrade goes, but the highest-ranking actor in military history would be President Ronald Reagan, as Commander-in-Chief of US Armed Forces…
What scale is your kit. I have a set of 1/72nd decals for male call, you can order them direct from the company which is in Canada. The set also includes decals for aircrfat used by Sadu, Gene Robbinberry and an actor who’s name escapes me right now.
The last actor in that set is Clark Gable.
Thats the one, thanks. This is the link to the set on the site, its Iliad Designs. I had been waiting all year to get these from hannants and then found the site and got them in a few weeks. They are based in Canada.
http://www.iliad-design.com/decals/Stars.html
Hope that helps
Too bad we now have men trying to actor as a president, and not really getting “into character”.
Easy now…no need to get this thread shut down for politics…
My dad gave me this book, “Jimmy Stewart, Bomber Pilot”. Has a pic of his plane.
The book:
The plane:
He also flew the Group Assembly ship on a one time unauthorized mission following the Group on a mission to France. Perhaps not as dangerous as it may sound, but it still took guts.
Best wishes,
Grant
The assembly ships were generally unarmed and flown-hard aircraft with lots of hours, so it did take guts to fly a combat mission with it, instead of a short hop around the assembly track, grouping the squadrons into the combat boxes.