Intermission Story (8) – Jimmy Stewart

James Maitland Stewart

Jimmy Stewart suffered such extreme PTSD after being a bomber pilot in World War II that he acted out his mental distress during ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.  Stewart played George Bailey in the classic movie and channeled his anger and guilt into the scenes where he rages at his family.

Stewart was haunted by ‘a thousand black memories’ from his time as an Air Force commanding officer that he took with him back to Hollywood after the war.  Pilots who flew with him said that became ‘Flak Happy’ during World War II, a term to describe what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

Stewart wrestled with the guilt of killing civilians in bomb raids over France and Germany including one instance where they destroyed the wrong city by mistake.

Stewart felt responsible for the death of his men and especially one bloodbath where he lost 13 planes containing 130 men who he knew well.  Stewart’s anguish is laid bare for the first time in author Robert Matzen’s Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the fight for Europe, published by Paladin Communications.

Stewart’s chance came with the creation of a B-24 bomber group, the 445th, and he was appointed commander of the 703rd squadron. After their air medal mission to Pas de Calais, the crew of the B-24H known as Lady Shamrock pose with air commander Stewart

Stewart never spoke  about it, even to other veterans, and bottled up his emotions that came out in the acting parts he chose when he returned to Hollywood.  He acted it out during It’s a Wonderful Life, where character George Bailey unravels in front of his family – the emotional core of the film after a lifetime of setbacks, including being unable to go to war while his brother becomes a decorated hero.

Films like Shenandoah and Winchester 73 allowed Stewart to explore his dark side which was never there before he went to war.

James Stewart and Clark Gable who was also sent into combat.

Matzen writes that Stewart’s decision to join the military was less surprising than his decision to become an actor; his grandfather fought in the Civil War and more distant relatives fought in the Revolutionary War.  His initial attempts failed because he was too skinny, despite trying to fatten himself up on ice cream and chocolate bars.  Stewart was finally called up shortly before the assault on Pearl Harbor in 1941 which forced America into the World War II.

Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life” channeled his PTSD from losing 130 of his men for the role.

Asked by a studio boss why he wanted to give up his life in Hollywood, Stewart said: ‘This country’s conscience is bigger than all the studios in Hollywood put together, and the time will come when we’ll have to fight’.  Stewart was initially put in the Air Force Motion Picture Division because commanders wanted to use him to make films to convince more airmen to sign up.

Major Stewart, 453rd Bomb Group Operations Officer, Old Buckenham, 1944

He was also used for PR stunts until he demanded that he see combat like other airmen.  Stewart’s chance came with the creation of a B-24 bomber group, the 445th, and he was appointed commander of the 703rd squadron.  After 20 missions, the stress began to take its toll him and the only food that would stay in his stomach was peanut butter and ice cream.

BGeneral Jimmy Stewart w/ his B-52 crew, 20 Feb. 1966, Vietnam.

Stewart did not leave the military and continued to serve until May 1968 when he retired after 27 years of service during which time he was a bomber pilot during the Vietnam War.

James Maitland Stewart

20 February 1966: Brigadier General James M. Stewart, United States Air Force Reserve, flew the last combat mission of his military career, a 12 hour, 50 minute “Arc Light” bombing mission over Vietnam, aboard Boeing B-52 Stratofortress of the 736th Bombardment Squadron, 454th Bombardment Wing.

Information collected from War History online; This Day in Aviation and Mission For Today.

Click on images to enlarge,

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Military Humor – Murphy’s Laws –

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Farewell Salutes – 

Edward Albert – Milwaukee, WI; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, Co. F/152nd Artillery/11th Airborne Division

Edmond Baclawski – Hinsdale, IL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, Sgt., radar

George Debenian – New Britain, CT; US Army, WWII

Stephen Everette – Albuquerque, NM; US Navy, WWII

Sam Friedman – Toronto, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII # R270226

Thomas Hardy – Lake Worth, FL; US Air Force, Korea & Vietnam, flight engineer (Ret. 20 yrs.)

Gerald Kerner – Brooklyn, NY; US Army, Korea, Sgt. Signal Corps

Joan Miller – London, ENG; Civilian, WWII, British Ministry of Supply

Frank Oddo – Summerfield, FL; US Army, WWII, medic, 32nd “Red Arrow” Division

Don Williams – New Orleans, LA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, pilot / Treasury Agent

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