James Howell Howard American military officer, Air Force general Date of Birth: 13.04.1913 Country: USA

1. Biography of James Howell Howard
2. Early Life and Career
3. Medal of Honor and Later Career
4. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of James Howell Howard

James Howell Howard was an American military general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He was the only fighter pilot to have fought in the European theater during World War II and received the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States. Howard is widely regarded as the greatest fighter pilot of that era.

Early Life and Career

Howard was born in Canton, China, where his family lived while his father taught Chinese people the secrets of eye surgery. In 1927, the Howards returned to the United States and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. After completing school, James enrolled at Pomona College in Claremont, California and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Initially, he planned to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor, but he later became interested in a career as a naval aviator.

Joining the U.S. Navy, James underwent flight training and earned his pilot wings. He initially served on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier before transferring to the legendary "Flying Tigers" squadron in Burma in 1939. Howard participated in 56 combat missions and personally shot down at least six Japanese aircraft. When the "Flying Tigers" were disbanded on July 4, 1942, Howard returned to the United States and was promoted to the rank of captain.

Medal of Honor and Later Career

In 1943, Howard was promoted to the rank of major and assigned to command the 356th Fighter Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. On January 11, 1944, he engaged in a lone aerial combat with 30 Luftwaffe fighters attacking a group of American bombers. For over half an hour, Howard heroically defended the bombers and managed to destroy six enemy fighters.

A week later, Major Howard held a press conference in London to describe the details of his heroic actions. Journalists immediately recognized the significance of his feat and published a series of enthusiastic articles. In February 1944, Howard was promoted and awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery. In early 1945, now a Colonel, Howard was appointed as the commander of Pinellas Army Airfield in Florida.

After the war, Howard continued to stay active and productive. He served as the Director of Aviation for a group in St. Louis, Missouri, and later founded his own successful engineering research company, Howard Research, which was later sold to Control Data Corporation. Howard went on to remarry after his first marriage ended in divorce.

Later Years and Legacy

In the 1970s, Howard retired from active duty. In 1991, he published his autobiography, "Roar of the Tiger," which focused mainly on his military experiences. His final public appearance was at a regional Boy Scouts banquet on January 27, 1995. James Howell Howard passed away six weeks later at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest fighter pilots of his time.