Lt Col Jim Howard 354th FG

Lieutenant-Colonel James H. Howard of the 354th Fighter Group sits in the cockpit of P-51 Mustang, serial number 43-6315. Japanese kills from his time in the AVG Flying tigers.

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".'

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 decorations DFC, Air Medal, Oak leaf Clusters, White Cloud Banner, and two star Medal of China. Associated Press Photo Shows: Seated in the cockpit of his new 'plane Major Howard watches S/S Marcus Hanson from Millburn NJ, the squadron painter, puts the finishing touches to a Nazi "Kill" emblem on the fuselage.'

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: 11/1/44], he attacked 30 enemy machines single-handed and shot down three, with one probably and two damaged.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Howard in own P-51B at Boxted, 25/4/44 not AC in which he won MOH, lt Col James Howard was awarded only Medal of Honour (highest US Award) to go to a fighter pilot flying in the ETO. Action on 11/1/44.'

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 Bickell, aged 27, of [obscured] Nutten, NJ and Major Owen M Seaman, aged 27 of 426-25th Ave, San Mateo, Calif. Howard flew the pre-war and early war days with the American Volunteer Group in China and Burma 9AVG) and has six and a third Jap planes to his credit. Bickell and Seaman were both at Pearl Harbour when the Japs attacked, Seaman being the only one of his squadron to get his plane into the air and then only after the main attack was over.'

Three pilots of the 354th Fighter Group at Boxted, January 1944. Left to right they are: Major James H. Howard, Major George R. Bickell and Major Owen Seaman.

Page 130 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

Page 131 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

"Col James H Howard, former leader of the 9th AF pioneer mustang group, received the Congressional Medal of Honor from Lt Gen Carl A Spatz for his single handed defense of heavy bombers against 30 threatening German fighters."