James H. Howard

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James H. Howard
Bronze Star
Air Medal (10)
Alma materPomona College

James Howell Howard (April 8, 1913 – March 18, 1995) was a

European Theater of Operations in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor — the United States military's highest decoration.[1][2] Howard was an ace in two operational theaters during World War II, with six kills over Asia with the Flying Tigers of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in the Pacific, and six kills over Europe with the United States Army Air Forces.[3] CBS commentator Andy Rooney, then a wartime reporter for Stars and Stripes, called Howard's exploits "the greatest fighter pilot story of World War II".[4][5]
In later life, Howard was a successful businessman, author, and airport director.

Early life

Born on April 8, 1913, in

Naval Aviator was more appealing than six years of medical school and internship, and he entered the United States Navy
as a naval aviation cadet.

Military career

United States Navy

Howard began his flight training in January 1938 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, earning his wings a year later.[6] In 1939, he was assigned as a U.S. Navy pilot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Flying Tigers

In June 1941, he left the Navy to become a

Burma.[6] He flew 56 missions and shot down 6 Japanese warplanes.[1]

United States Army Air Forces

North American P-51B-5 Mustang (serial 43–6315) Ding Hao!, with James H. Howard, 1944 RAF Boxted, England.

After the Flying Tigers were disbanded on July 4, 1942, Howard returned to the U.S. and was commissioned a captain in the Army Air Forces. In 1943, he was promoted to the rank of major and given command of the 356th Fighter Squadron in the 354th Fighter Group, based in the United Kingdom.

Howard with markings showing aerial victories

On January 11, 1944, Howard led three squadrons of 354th FG P-51s on an escort mission to support bombers on the target leg at Oschersleben, Germany. The bombers had completed their target run and were already in trouble when Howard spotted them. After dispensing the other two squadrons to protect middle and rearward bomber formations, Howard's squadron flew towards the lead formation and broke up into flights.[7]

After the initial contact, Howard became separated from his flight[6] and then from his wingman[7] and flew unaccompanied into some 30 Luftwaffe fighters that were attacking a formation of American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.[4][8] For more than a half-hour, Howard defended the heavy bombers of the 401st Bomb Group against the swarm of Luftwaffe fighters, repeatedly attacking the enemy and shooting down as many as six.[8] Even after three of his four guns were out of action, he continued to dive on enemy airplanes.[8] The leader of the bomber formation later reported, "For sheer determination and guts, it was the greatest exhibition I've ever seen. It was a case of one lone American against what seemed to be the entire Luftwaffe. He was all over the wing, across and around it. They can't give that boy a big enough award."[6] However, none of this has ever been confirmed against German records.

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport

The following week, the Army Air Forces held a press conference in London at which Major Howard described the attack to reporters, including the

General Carl Spaatz for his January 11 valor. That same month, Howard helped direct fighter cover for the Allies' Normandy landings on D-Day.[4]

In January 1945, Howard was promoted to

United States Air Force

With the establishment of the

Later years

United States Air Force Reserve. He later founded Howard Research, a systems engineering business, which he eventually sold to Control Data Corporation.[6]
He married Mary Balles in 1948 in a military wedding ceremony. They later divorced, and Howard then married Florence Buteau.

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

In the 1970s, Howard retired to

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.[5][11] Another exhibit paying tribute to Howard was subsequently dedicated at his high school alma mater, John Burroughs School
in St. Louis.

On January 27, 1995, Howard made his last public appearance when he was guest of honor at the annual banquet of the West Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, in Clearwater, Florida. He died six weeks later at the nearby Bay Pines Veterans Hospital, survived by two sisters. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

Honors

Howard Avenue in the Market Common District of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is named in tribute to Howard, who was a commander of the relocated 354th Fighter-Day Group at nearby Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.[12] There is a memorial marker with photos and an inscription in Market Common Valor Memorial Garden at the intersection of Hackler Street and Howard Avenue: 33°40.062′N 78°56.368′W / 33.667700°N 78.939467°W / 33.667700; -78.939467.[13]

Summary of aircraft destroyed

Aircraft destroyed:[14]
Date # Type Location Aircraft flown Unit assigned Air/Ground
January 3, 1942 3 Nakajima Ki-27 Rahang, Thailand
P-40C
2 PS,[6] AVG Ground
January 19, 1942 0.15 Mitsubishi Ki-21 Mesoht,
Burma
P-40C AVG Air
January 24, 1942 1 Ki-27 Yangon, Burma P-40C AVG Air
July 4, 1942 1 Ki-27
China
P-40E
AVG Air
December 20, 1943 1 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Bremen, Germany
P-51B Mustang
356 FS, 354 FG Air
January 11, 1944 2 Messerschmitt Bf 110 Oschersleben, Germany P-51B 356 FS, 354 FG Air
January 11, 1944 1 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Oschersleben, Germany P-51B 356 FS, 354 FG Air
January 30, 1944 1 Bf 110 Braunschweig, Germany P-51B 356 FS, 354 FG Air
April 8, 1944 1 Fw 190 Braunschweig, Germany P-51B 354 FG[15] Air

Military awards

Howard received the following awards:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
U.S. Air Force Command pilot badge
Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross
with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal Air Medal
with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing)
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation American Defense Service Medal
with service star
American Campaign Medal
campaign star
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with two bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
with service star
Air Force Longevity Service Award

with four bronze oak leaf clusters
hourglass device
Order of the Sacred Tripod
6th Grade
(Republic of China)
Order of the Cloud and Banner
6th Grade
(Republic of China)
China War Memorial Medal
(Republic of China)

Medal of Honor citation

The citation accompanying the Medal of Honor awarded to Lieutenant Colonel James H. Howard on 5 June 1944, by Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz reads:

Carl Spaatz
Howard presented with a plaque at a 1982 reunion of Air Force Medal of Honor recipients

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944. On that day Col. Howard was the leader of a group of P-51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Col. Howard's group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Col. Howard, with his group, at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German ME. 110. As a result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand. While Col. Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack single-handed a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action and his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.[16]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  1. ^ a b c d Wolfgang Saxon (1995-03-22). "Gen. James Howard, 81, Dies; Medal Winner in Aerial Combat". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  2. ^ The New York Times obituary that calls Howard the only ETO fighter pilot to receive the Medal of Honor is wrong; there was at least one other: 1st Lt. Raymond L. Knight."Knight -- 1st Lt Raymond L Knight". Air Force Historical Support Division. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. .
  4. ^
  5. ^ on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ a b Grant, Rebecca (1 Nov 2010). "One-Man Air Force". Air & Space Forces.
  8. ^ a b c Frederick Graham (January 19, 1944). "One-Man Air Force Belittles His Feat" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  9. .
  10. St. Petersburg Times
    . Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  11. on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  12. .
  13. ^ Herrick, Michael (2017-03-19). "The Historical Marker Database". Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  14. ^ Stars and Bars
  15. ^ USAF (1978). "USAF Historical Study No. 85, USAF credits for the destruction of enemy aircraft, World War II". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  16. ^ "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II". United States Army Center of Military History. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2008-05-27.

Further reading

External links