Major James Howard

American Volunteer Group

Mustang Ace, ETO

Medal Of Honor

Colonel James H. Howard

James was born on April 8, 1913 as James Howell Howard. His parents were missionaries in Canton , China when James was born. He arrived in the United States at the age of fourteen. James finished High school and graduated from Pomona Collage, California in 1937. He was drawn to aviation as a boy and even more so now as he joined the Navy for flight training. In August 1939 James Howard graduated at Pensacola, N.A.S. as a Naval Aviator.

His first assignment was with VF-6. The fighter squadron was attached to the USS Enterprise. The Enterprise CV-6 was the newest American carrier at the time. Second of the Yorktown Class, the flight deck of the Enterprise was lengthened to 820 feet.

By chance a recruiter representing General Clair Chennault and the government of China was passing through the Naval Air Bases in Norfolk . Word went through the ranks of naval pilots and Ensign Howard was able to secure an interview that would lead him into the jungles of South East Asia . After resigning his commission he was shipped out where he was to be a squadron leader with the AVG.

While flying with the Flying Tigers, James was officially credited with 2 1/3 enemy victories. The AVG was disbanded and James returned to the United States where he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

Assigned temporally to the 329^th Fighter Group and was then transferred to the 354^th FG located in California . The 354^th FG adapted the name “Pioneers” because they were to be the first group to fly the new P-51B with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine in combat. James was promoted to Major in September 1943 and became commander of the 356^th Fighter Squadron. In November the group deployed to England . They were also to be the first to test combat tactics against the Luftwaffe.

At this point in time, James was already a war veteran with aerial victories and combat experience against the best of the Imperial Japanese Air Force and Naval pilots. James was to become one of many that formed the true “Pioneer” air group as they together proved that the United States could develop and deploy an air force of great strength. Once in England they gained another war veteran, Donald Blakeslee who served as an American Eagle Squadron Commander before America entered the war. With the 354^th in Boxted, Essex the group became adapted to the English weather and the local hospitality.

Under Blakeslee’s guidance the 354^th developed into a formable unit. The air groups practiced and then began the duty of flying day light raids on German targets that would require six to seven hours of flight time. With the new potential range of the Mustang the flight time would be longer than fighter pilots normally had endured. The very success of these first few missions could be the pivotal point of American Air War Strategy.

They were to fly escort for the first missions by themselves until other Fighter Groups could join them. Flying handed down fighters at first the groups new Mustangs finally arrived. Training lasted a month and the unit was combat ready by December 1943. The unit claimed its first aerial victory on December 16^th. January 1944 opened with combat on the 5^th when the group was to supply support for a bomber group that would be withdrawing from the target area, Kiel . Once they reached the rendezvous location the 354^th were confronted by a large group of Luftwaffe fighters who were also waiting for the fleeing bomber group. The Mustangs claimed eighteen confirmed enemy fighters without loosing an aircraft.

On January 11^th, in the defense of a formation of B-17 Fortresses, James single handedly fought thirty enemy fighters many of which were the Messerschmitt Me 110’s and Focke Wulf FW-190’s. During this mission to Frankfurt with the 401^st Bombing Group James became a hero to the bomber crews that witnessed his skill and bravery.

In the ensuing twenty-five to thirty minute air battle, witnesses from the bomber formation saw James shoot down, not damage, but shoot down six of the fighters and damaged a few others. Bomber crews swear that they saw six of the ME-110’s in flames with crew leaping from the wreckage if they still lived. James himself clamed only two confirmed when he landed. The Fighter Ace Association recorded the actual claims as, two downed ME-110’s, and a FW-190. A Bf-109 was registered as a “probable” and damage to another as James used the last of his ammunition. James was the first Mustang Ace in the ETO and the only fighter pilot to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

During an escort mission on January 30^th, James claimed two enemy fighters. Before James finished his combat tour he claimed two more fighters on April 8, 1944. For the action and bravery shown by Major James H. Howard while defending the401st Bomber Group on January 11, 1944, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

James was promoted and moved into key positions that used his talents, but removed him from the cockpit of a fighter for the rest of the war. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and assumed command of the air group on February 12^th. He was then assigned to combat operations of the Ninth Air Force.

After the war James commanded the Pinellas Gunnery School located in Florida until November 1945 when he resigned and returned to civilian life. James stayed active with the Air Force Reserve and retired as a Brigadier General in 1966.

James H. Howard was officially credited with 8 1/3 confirmed aerial victories with one probable and two damaged. His decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters and finally the Chinese White Cloud Banner for his service with the AVG.

I contacted James in November of 1994 about my series of Famous American Aviators. I wanted James to be my first Mustang Ace. As a young man in the tenth grade I was obsessed with building model airplanes. I read every WWII book we had in the school library. Aviation was where my interest took me the most. James Howard was my hero and his Mustang, “Ding Hao!” was one of the many fighters of the aces I would build. I still have the 1/48 Monogram model I built of “Ding Hao!”.

I talked to James several times in the Fall of 1994. He was interested in working with me and being part of my series. I told him that I would write his story and paint the painting of his Mustang and come down to visit him. James lived in Gainesville , Florida just south of me in Green Cove Springs , Florida . I started my series of famous American aviators in 1993 with George Gay and Robert Scott, two of my other Heroes. My next prints where the Memphis Belle and Robert Morgan, David “ Tex ” Hill of the Flying Tigers and Roy “Butch” Voris, the very first Blue Angel. James was to be my next print, my first Mustang and I was excited.

I finished the painting of his Mustang on December 27, 1994. I called James and talked to him about my visit. He was busy with the holidays and we would talk again in a few weeks. Several weeks later I called back and he was in poor health. I was never able to visit with James because his condition worsened. James passed away on March 18, 1995. I am glad that I got the short opportunity to talk with him. I will add more to this page in the future. This guy’s story is nothing but “All Guts and Glory!”

Back to Aviator Story Directory

Back to Main Library

Counter Started 6-19-07