Actor James Cagney christening the B-17 Yankee Doodle Dandy  at Framlingham Airfield England, 1944.
Source: United States Army Air Forces via the Eighth Air Force Archives.
Identikit: Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-95-DL Fortress 44-83884 "Yankee Doodle Dandy" 




Yanky Doodle Dandy

James ("Jimmy") Stewart, distinguished Hollywood actor and bomber pilot, is presented with the Croix de Guerre.  Stewart went out of his way to avoid the safety of a training officer-cum-War Bond salesman in favour of an active combat role.  He finished the war a Colonel of the Reserve.  Best regards, JR.

Hollywood at war (2)

Tirana airfield (Tiranë-Laprakë), Albania, 24 October 1943: the attack made by 36 North American B-25 medium bomber of the USAAF’s 321st Bombardment Group, 57th Bomb Wing, took-off from Grottaglie Airdrome, Southern Italy, loaded with 20 lbs fragmentation bombs. The American bombers raided the target from 10/11,000 ft observing about 25 enemies airplane in aircraft boneyard at NW and 25/30 other on field including 15 He 111 and Ju 52 at SW corner plus transports parked on field parallel to runway, and 5/6 around perimeter. 13 German aircraft was claimed destroyed. B-25 lost: none. Victor Sierra