Strategic Air Command

1955 *v

USAF- Jimmie Stewart; Ball player is forced back into SAC. Convair B-36H,B-36J of 7 BW, 11 BW at Carswell AFB. Boeing KB-97, Douglas C-124A Globemaster, Boeing B-47B wing at MacDill AFB. All in glorious colour.

Briefly or in the background are Beech C-45, B-45, C-97, Sikorsky HH-19,Lockheed T-33A, Douglas C-54, B-25. Watch for the swept wing Convair YB-60amongst the many -36's on the huge Convair plant ramp as Stewart takes of(freeze it as the gear comes up).

Story by Beirne Lay Jr. Both he and Stewart were B-24 vets. Lay was part of the first 7 8 Air Force officers that arrived in UK in early 1942. He was a staffer, later commander of the 487 BG on B-24H/J. He was later shot down but evaded capture.

Stewart was intially at Kirtland checking out bombadiers, then he did a tour as a 4 engine B-17 instructor. He then joined the 703 BS, 445 BG, 8th Air Force on B-24's as their squadron commander. Stewart flew 20 missions,including group leader.

Jimmy subsequently became the Group Ops. Officer with the 456 BG, flew wing lead, but later could only fly the form-up ship, (which he once kept going all the way to France on the mission - it was highly coloured and unarmed!) Next he became Chief of Staff in 2 Wing, 8th Air Force.

Post-war he stayed in the USAF reserve, reaching Brig. General in 1959. Has been seen flying B-58's, and B-52 combat in Vietnam. Was commander of an aeromedical airlift group at Travis AFB in the 1950's. (C-131). He refused to allow his war record to ever be used in the movies or as publicity.