James Howell Howard

Military
media-27694.jpeg UPL 27694 Lt Col Jim Howard 354th FG J Cook photo collection and archives

JCook Photo Collection

Object Number - UPL 27694 - Lt Col Jim Howard 354th FG

USN 1939-1941 flew F3Fs with VF-6 USS Enterprise CV-6
AVG Flying Tigers 2nd Pursuit Squadron P-40C, P-40E 1941-42
AAF 329th FG P-38 instructor
AAF 356th FS commander P-39s and P-51Bs
AAF 354th FG commander P-51Bs
2.33 air kills with AVG + 6 air kills with 354th FG
Brig. General USAFR retired                                    -   James Howell Howard (April 8, 1913 – March 18, 1995) was a general in the United States Air Force and the only fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor — the United States military's highest decoration.[1] Howard was an ace in two operational theaters during World War II, with 6.33 aircraft destroyed 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.[2] 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".[3][4] In later life, Howard was a successful businessman, author, and airport director.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 70th Fighter Wing 354th Fighter Group 356th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-407083
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Operations Officer/FAC

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Ding Hao!
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 356th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Prodigal Son, Feb-Apr 1944
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Squadron 354th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 355th Fighter Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Gael Point-Clos

Revisions

Date
Contributorjfbecker
Changes
Sources

P-40Bs to P-40C,E change from Stars and Bars table in Wikipedia article (26/9/2023) about Howard.

Changed "6 kills" to "6.33 aircraft destroyed" per Jim Howard's book Roar of the Tiger (1991) as some of his victories were ground targets.

Date
Contributorjfbecker
Changes
Sources

According to "Wikipedia, James H. Howard", per a Stars & Stripes citation in that article, Howard destroyed five Japanese aircraft flying a P-40C and one with a P-40E.  I think it is the photo caption of him stepping into FT-x (a 353rd FS P-51B) that says he flew P-40Bs which seems inaccurate.  

Also there's an article from Flight Journal https://www.flightjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JimHoward.pdf   that claims the "FT-x" photo is dated 20 January 1944.  Here's the rest of what that website says: 

FT-x S/N 43-12175

Lt. Col. Jim Howard boards a 353rd Fighter Squadron P-51B prior to the Ninth Air Force Group’s mission from Boxted, England, on January 20, 1944. This Mustang was soon lost to air action over Germany on April 8. (Photo courtesy of Stan Piet) 

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Wikipedia  -  James Howard Howell  www.clogs.org .  -   Congressional Medal of Honor Society  -  Stories Of Sacrifice

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Wikipedia  -  James Howard Howell  www.clogs.org .  -   Congressional Medal of Honor Society  -  Stories Of Sacrifice

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Wikipedia  -  James Howard Howell  www.clogs.org .  -   Congressional Medal of Honor Society  -  Stories Of Sacrifice

Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
Contributorusafdo
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A. L. DESTRO II

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

James Howell Howard: Gallery (11 items)