Jimmy Stewart--B-24 Pilot and Actor, Gets a Stamp

Jimmy got his stamp last week. The price has gone up to 41 cents, but the stamp is the same.

The great James 'Jimmy' Stewart was honored with a United States postage stamp last week. Stewart is best-known and loved as a Hollywood film actor, but he was also a B-24 pilot in World War Two and flew twenty missions over Europe. His men remember him as a regular guy, humble and approachable. One of my friends, Sam Mastrogiacomo, flew in the same squadron and remembers the day Stewart was aboard to give his pilot a check ride. All the crew found a reason to work their way into the cockpit for a peek at the Hollywood legend. Sam found Stewart to be genuine and approachable to officers and enlisted men alike, and a very fine superior officer.

Stewart flew with the 445th Bomb Group, US Eighth Air Force, out of England. He was a command pilot on many of these missions, and one of his planes was 'Four Yanks and a Jerk'.

Stewart posed for this LIFE cover in the town square of his home town of Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Stewart was already a famous actor when he volunteered for duty. He ended the war as a command pilot and stayed in the Air Force Reserves until 1968, when he retired as a Brig. General. His last mission was on a B-52 Bomber.

Jimmy Stewart was a true American hero and we can honor his memory by using his stamp till it is sold out. I will use no other until then.


Jimmy Stewart's leather flight jacket is on display in Dayton, Ohio.

God bless you, Jimmy!