That story about the formation plane is what I remember reading some years ago. I'm trying to see if I can find it online. The central point is this - Jimmy Stewart could've easily found a safe position somewhere but instead actively sought combat roles. He was both a man in the truest sense of the word and a leader of men. While his movie roles show him to be some kind of friendly if not too bright fellow, in real life he was serious and dedicated. Like I said before, I don't know if we'll ever see his kind again.

Years ago, I remember a letter to Air Force magazine by an man who'd visited Stewart's unit during WWII. The man asked a grizzled old Master Sergeant what kind of commander Stewart really was. The reply was straight to the point, "Sir, Col. Stewart is the best damned commander in the Air Force!" You can't fake something like that. Respect like that from the hardline NCOs has to be earned. His men loved him. That says a lot in my book.