Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

By: Starr Smith, Walter Cronkite

Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Of all the celebrities who served their country during World War II - and they were legion - Jimmy Stewart was unique. On December 7, when the attack on Pearl Harbor woke so many others to the reality of war, Stewart was already in uniform - as a private on guard duty south of San Francisco at the Army Air Corps Moffet Field. Seeing war on the horizon, Jimmy Stewart, at the height of his fame after Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and his Oscar-winning turn in The Philadelphia Story in 1940, had enlisted several months earlier.

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot chronicles his long journey to become a bomber pilot in combat. Author Starr Smith, the intelligence officer assigned to the movie star, recounts how Stewart's first battles were with the Air Corps high command, who insisted on keeping the naturally talented pilot out of harm's way as an instructor pilot for B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. By 1944, however, Stewart managed to get assigned to a Liberator squadron that was deploying to England to join the mighty Eighth Air Force. Once in the thick of it, he rose to command his own squadron and flew 20 combat missions, including one to Berlin.

©2010 Starr Smith (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Smith's clear admiration for Stewart comes through on every page, but with an understatement that even George Bailey could have lived with." ( Publishers Weekly)

A great actor and a better pilot.

I enjoyed this account of life with B-24 liberators. I was impressed with Mr Stewart’s war record. It was an interesting account of how things worked behind the bomb crews.

outstanding view of Jimmy Stewart's war experience!

Very good behind the scenes of a well-known movie stars experience in World War 2. A great read!

Excellent

Some focus on his film career but loved the detail on the missions and what things were like for folks in the 8th Air Force.

Great

What a great book about a Hollywood legend who was a true American hero

Moves quickly and is very interesting.

There are many books available about WWII....this one picked my interest because of the movie actor, who went to combat.
In an age too many people consider being a patriot as "not desirable" it was refreshing hearing about a real person, who could have chosen privilege over duty. But James Stewart, chose to go serve his country. I suppose there are many details left out of this story, it moves quickly, However I felt there is enough story, to understand the person, and what he did, when he did it.
Apparently, Mr. Stewart's humble nature precludes more details. But as I stated, I think you the reader or listener will enjoy the story. So yes its worth reading or listening to.

After-action intelligence report

This is a pretty good book but not what i expected. In keeping with the author’s wartime role, and t can best be described as a crisp and orderly processions of names, dates, and facts which comprehensively walks the reader through Jimmy Stewart’s remarkable wartime service.

I was expecting a lot more in the nature of personal recollections, yet most were collected from other parties who served directly with Stewart. Nevertheless I left with a profound appreciation for Stewart’s wartime efforts, not least his desire to fight rather than be relegated to a desk (for safety) or morale-building films on the homefront.

Jimmy Stewart achieved his high rank and commendations not through his celebrity, but in spite of it. His humility and fighting soirit embody the best qualities of our “Greatest Generation”.