James Howell Howard
Military
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
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
Missions
- Date: 11 January 1944
Places
Revisions
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.
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)
Wikipedia - James Howard Howell www.clogs.org . - Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Stories Of Sacrifice
Wikipedia - James Howard Howell www.clogs.org . - Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Stories Of Sacrifice
Wikipedia - James Howard Howell www.clogs.org . - Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Stories Of Sacrifice
JCook Photo Collection & Archives
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
![Squadron Commanders of the 354th Fighter Group, Major James H Howard, Major George R Bickell and Major Owen M Seaman, with a P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 13 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '296905.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE P-51B- WORLD'S FASTEST FIGHTER PLANE. Associated Press photo shows: The three Squadron Commanders of the group. Left to right: Major James H Howard, aged 30, of 30 Crestwood Drive, St Louis, MO; Major George R](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377102.jpg.webp?itok=xbze-KyQ)
![Lieutenant-Colonel James H Howard, of the 354th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Central Press Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '317270.' [Censor no.] A printed press story was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt col Howard, a famous pilot with US IXth Fighter Command, has six Japs and Six Nazis to his list of kills whilst on a recent mission to Berlin [annotated: 11/1/](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377111.jpg.webp?itok=BJbkRRWi)
![Major James H Howard of the 354th Fighter Group waits for take-off in his P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '301685.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Associated Press Photo Shows: Major Howard waiting to take off in his new 'plane. Painted on the fuselage can be seen the record of his Jap and Nazi "kills".'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377112.jpg.webp?itok=N6_7GtRh)
![Major James H Howard of the 354th Fighter Group watches Staff-Sergeant Marcus Hanson paint a "kill" onto his new P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '301687.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'NEW SHIP FOR MAJOR HOWARD. American Fighter Ace Major James H Howard of St Louis, MO, has now taken over a new ship- one of the crack P-51Bs which have been making aerial history recently. Major Howard has the following decora](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377116.jpg.webp?itok=zncZwyZA)
