James T. Stewart

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James T. Stewart
United Nations Service Medal

James Thompson Stewart (2 April 1921 – 3 September 1990) was a

508th Bombardment Squadron during World War II. He served with the Far East Air Force in the Korean War, and was staff director of the National Reconnaissance Office and the vice director of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory
.

Early life

James Thompson Stewart was born

Roosevelt High School in St. Louis in 1938.[3] His father wanted him to attended the United States Naval Academy, but he was unable to secure an appointment, and entered the University of Michigan instead.[4]

While there he served in the

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and learned to fly though the Civilian Pilot Training Program, with the idea of eventually becoming a commercial pilot. After two years at the University of Michigan he was offered an appointment to the Naval Academy but turned it down, since World War II had already broken out in Europe and he did not want to spend the next few years at the Academy.[4]

World War II

In 1941, Stewart attempted to join the Navy, but for some reason it determined that he was color blind. The Army's tests indicated no such disability, and with over two years of college he was allowed to enlist as a

Brooks Field, Texas,[5] and on completion of the training he received his wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps in 1942.[1]

Stewart was assigned to

Geiger Field, Washington, and became an instructor pilot.[1]

Soon afterwards, he was transferred to the

351st Bombardment Group. The 508th Bombardment Squadron deployed to RAF Polebrook in the United Kingdom in May 1943, and Stewart became its commander the following month. He commanded the squadron for the rest of the war, and flew two combat tours, something few men survived long enough to achieve.[1] He married Georgia Schwepker of Tacoma, Washington, on 28 June 1944. They had two children, a boy and a girl.[2][1]

Post-war

After the war ended, Stewart was offered a regular commission and accepted it. He attended the Aircraft Maintenance Officer course at

Chanute Field in Illinois, and in 1947 he returned to the University of Michigan,[8] from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1948. He was then assigned to the Air Proving Ground at Eglin Air Force Base, where he pioneered techniques for long-range flying using cruise control, and the delivery of nuclear weapons from jet fighter aircraft.[1]

In 1952, during the Korean War, Stewart was posted to Far East Air Force headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, where he established requirements for equipment, supervised local modifications, and developed the nuclear delivery capability of the Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighters. In 1954 he became the Far Eastern Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for operations. He later wrote a book, Airpower – The Decisive Force in Korea (1958).[1]

Stewart returned to the United States in 1955, and was assigned to U.S. Air Force (USAF) headquarters in

master of business administration degree from George Washington University in 1963.[1]

In August 1964 General Stewart was assigned to the

lieutenant general.[1][9]
Stewart's decorations included the
United Nations Service Medal.[1][10]

Later life

Stewart died on 3 September 1990,[9] and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[11]

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date Reference
Second lieutenant
 Air Corps 29 April 1942 [10]
First lieutenant
(temporary)		 Army of the United States 26 February 19432 [10]
Captain
(temporary)		 Army of the United States 7 July 1943 [10]
Major (temporary) Army of the United States 29 October 1943 [10]
Lieutenant colonel (temporary) Army of the United States 11 November 1944 [10]
First lieutenant
 Air Corps 29 April 1945 [10]
Captain
 United States Air Force 25 October 1948 [10]
Colonel (temporary) United States Air Force 1 August 1951 [10]
Major United States Air Force 12 October 1951 [10]
Lieutenant colonel United States Air Force 8 August 1958 [10]
Colonel United States Air Force 22 December 1960 [10]
Brigadier general (temporary) United States Air Force 1 January 1964 [10]
Brigadier general United States Air Force 10 February 1966 [10]
Major general (temporary) United States Air Force 1 October 1966 [10]
Major general United States Air Force 16 February 1968 [10]
Lieutenant general (temporary) United States Air Force 1 June 1970 [10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Lieutenant General James T. Stewart". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Stewart 1990, p. 335.
  3. ^ Stewart 1990, p. 333.
  4. ^ a b Stewart 1990, pp. 5–8, 25–26.
  5. ^ Stewart 1990, pp. 5–8, 25–27.
  6. ^ Stewart 1990, p. 26.
  7. ^ Maurer 1982, p. 345.
  8. ^ Stewart 1990, pp. 237–242.
  9. ^ a b Laurie & Suk 2019, p. 112.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Stewart 1990, p. 336.
  11. ^ "Burial Detail: Stewart, James T". ANC Explorer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.

References

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