Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe

This is the story not of Jimmy Stewart the beloved actor, or James Stewart who drew such delightful portraits of Harvey the Rabbit for very special fans.This is the gallant, frequently heartwrenching, always courageous tale of a well-respected man called Jim, who bore the doubts and fears of a wartime Army Air Corps squadron commander, responsible for lives of his band of brothers, his friends, his respected colleagues, and the kids from back home.During his service, he eschewed the trappings of being a cinema star. It was as if the two had been surgically severed. That was then; this was Now.He was a natural leader, and earned the trust of his men.But after his required number of harrowing missions had been flown, he struggled with what is now termed Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) for the rest of his days. When he returned home, he was no longer the carefree ladies’ man — that fellow disappeared over the skies of Germany, never to return.Interwoven into Jim’s story are those of young Gertrude Siepmann, who was a child in Germany during the horrors of war. Her view of the War was from a completely different, diametrically opposed perspective of those Allied fighters in the air. He also includes the remarkable history of Clem Leone, who flew in the 445th Bomb Group with Stewart. Interviews with other vets who served with Stewart as well as extensive research in the James Stewart papers housed at Brigham Young University add to the fully rounded portrait of a very unusual man and his very unusual place in our nation’s history.Much like Matzen’s earlier book, FIREBALL: The Mystery of Carole Lombard and Flight Three, the research is in-depth, respectful, and beyond thorough. The writing, as always, is engaging, heartfelt, and crisply done.This is an excellent, intriguing read for the Hollywood cinema fan, as well as the aviation and WWII history buff.Cannot recommend this book highly enough.

"Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe"A recent article about Jimmy Stewart's military service in WWII and his following struggle with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) encouraged me to select the book titled "Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe" by Robert Matzen for more information. I had no idea what an amazing journey I was about to take through Mr. Stewart's Philadelphia youth, college days at Princeton, Broadway, Hollywood and Army Air Corps experiences.From the time I opened this book on my Kindle, I was hooked. Mr Matzen's writing was more like being placed inside a movie set as a quiet extra, close enough to touch the main characters but not seen or heard.Though the glittering days of Hollywood in the 30's and 40's was well before my time, the names of the stars were familiar and the stories shared were a delightful, unexpected treat. His strong work ethic had the studios seeking this fine actor for their films. James Stewart, though a major star, was a man who dealt with internal angst that constantly troubled him, keeping his stomach unsettled and his weight on the light side for his frame. But his eye for the ladies and theirs for him kept him busy off camera too.Coming from a family where the men of each generation went to war for their country, serving as a pilot in WWII was more than a goal for James Stewart. He was fastidious about every task he took on and he made sure that his skills lacked nothing to keep him from earning his combat pilot rating.Mr Matzen's strong writing style combined with research and testimonials take the reader into the cockpits of the Liberator B24 bombers on mission after mission as actor turned commander led his young crews into combat situations that would haunt most who survived. Though my father was a WWII fighter pilot, I had not heard much like the air battles as shared in this book. It is not something our Greatest Generation talked about when they came home. It is no wonder this sensitive man became "flak happy", a term used then for what we now call PTS (Post Traumatic Stress).Coming home was a difficult, almost impossible transition. Trying to fit back into Hollywood was not working out. But a director who was going through the same struggle encouraged Jimmy Stewart to use the PTS in a role that was developed for him. This joint effort of director/actor, two war weary Veterans, was not only a success, it resulted in a classic that is played over and over every year through today.If the top rating for this book is 5 Stars, I would still give it 15! There is not enough room in a simple review to give the praise it deserves.

An informative book detailing how Jimmy Stewart unlike some of his film star contemporaries was prepared to volunteer and fight in WW2. A lucky and very brave man. The photos of Jimmy Stewart taken before and after his wartime service where the toll taken on him were most telling. Well written and recommended.

A book to read. My son wanted it and now he reads it.

James Maitland Stewart war nicht nur ein beliebter und Oscar prämierter Schauspieler, er ließ auch die Traumfabrik Hollywood 1941 hinter sich um sich der United States Army anzuschließen und bei der Befreiung Europas zu helfen. Nach seiner Zulassung zum Bomberpiloten, bildete er andere aus bis er dann selbst in England stationiert wurde und mehr als zwanzig Einsätze flog. Die Einsätze dauerten lang, die Besatzung musste immerzu durch die gnadenlosen Flugabwehrkanonen der Deutschen mit dem Abschuss rechnen. Der ständige Stress, die Angst und der Verlust vieler Kameraden wog schwer. Bald schon verfolgten ihn Albträume und der Dienst wurde immer schwieriger zu bewältigen. In nur wenigen Monaten Einsatz alterte er stark, äußerlich wie auch innerlich.Die Kriegszeiten waren sehr hart. Und so viele erlebten die Bombenangriffe auf verschiedene Weise📖Unerwarteterweise hat mich dieses Buch tatsächlich fasziniert. Fängt es noch recht locker flockig an und erzählt wie James Stewart aufgewachsen ist, wie er in Hollywood Fuß fasste und ja auch welche Beliebtheit er durchaus bei den Schauspielkolleginnen hatte, wird es mit Beginn des Krieges immer düsterer. James Stewart fühlt sich durch die Geschichte seiner Familie dazu verpflichtet seinem Land so gut es geht zu dienen und nutzt sein bereits vorhandenes Können als Fliegerpilot um sich weiterbilden zu lassen zum Bomberpilot. Stationiert im eiskalten, schlammig, winterlichen Tibenham in England folgt Einsatz hinter Einsatz. Es ist bedrückend über die Strapazen zu lesen. Und wäre es nur Kapitel um Kapitel um diese Bombeneinsätze gegangen, hätte es mich durchaus nach einer Zeit ermüden können. Doch der Autor hat sehr geschickt noch weitere Geschichten von Personen mit eingeflochten, die in verschiedenen Weisen mit James Stewart und den Bombenangriffen in Verbindung standen. So erfahren wir auch von einem deutschen Piloten, der Angriffe auf Alliierte Bomberflugzeuge flog. Von einem anderen jungen Piloten aus James Stewarts Geschwader und von einem kleinen deutschen Mädchen, das die Bombenangriffe der Alliierten hautnah miterlebte. Diese wahren Erzählungen wechseln sich nach fast jedem Kapitel ab und man ist gefesselt wie es für alle Personen weitergeht.Erwartet hatte ich nicht, dass auch meine kleine Stadt mehrfach erwähnt würde, obgleich ich wusste, dass sie bombardiert wurde, ich mich aber zugegeben bisher damit nicht wirklich weiter beschäftigt hatte.Es ließ sich auf Englisch sehr gut lesen und ich fühlte mich zu keinem Zeitpunkt von militärischen Begriffen überfordert oder allgemein gelangweilt. Im hinteren Teil gab es noch Erläuterungen zu einigen Begriffen und einige Fotos.Das Buch war sehr interessant zu lesen und hat mich mitgenommen. Der Autor hat diese Mischung aus Hollywoodstar Biografie und Kriegserfahrungsbericht sehr gut hinbekommen.

excellent book.

A great actor, and a brave manAs a big James Stewart admirer, I found this book a great experience, and JS a very human and brave airman.Terry Carter