James H. Howard

James H. Howard
Name	James H. Howard
Birth date	December 28, 1913
Birth place	Canton, Oklahoma
Death date	August 3, 1995
Death place	Woodbridge, Virginia
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	356th Fighter Group, 361st Fighter Squadron
Battles	World War II, European Theater of Operations, Operation Pointblank, Eighth Air Force
Awards	Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit

James H. Howard was a United States Army Air Forces fighter pilot and flying ace who received the Medal of Honor for a single-handed defense of damaged B-17 Flying Fortress bombers during a 1944 mission over Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. A leader in the 356th Fighter Group, he later served in the United States Air Force and participated in Cold War-era assignments that connected him to NATO operations and aviation development. Howard's combat record and postwar contributions link him to major figures, units, and institutions of mid-20th-century American aviation.

Early life and education

Born in Canton, Oklahoma, Howard attended local schools before enrolling at the University of Oklahoma where he studied business and commerce. He later pursued flight training influenced by the global tensions surrounding World War II, attending civilian flight schools associated with the Civilian Pilot Training Program and interacting with instructors connected to the Army Air Corps flight training network. His early associations connected him to aviation communities in Texas, Oklahoma, and flight instruction tied to regional airfields that fed pilots into the Eighth Air Force pipeline.

Military career

Howard was commissioned into the United States Army Air Corps and assigned to the Eighth Air Force's fighter component, flying the P-47 Thunderbolt before converting to the P-51 Mustang. He joined the 356th Fighter Group and served with the 361st Fighter Squadron based at Martlesham Heath. During his tenure he flew escort missions for the Eighth Air Force bomber formations including the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator during operations that supported Operation Overlord, Big Week, and the strategic bombing campaign overseen by leaders like General Henry H. Arnold and General Ira C. Eaker. Howard engaged Luftwaffe units including elements of Jagdgeschwader 1, Jagdgeschwader 11, and pilots flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. His unit coordinated with groups such as the 4th Fighter Group and the 352nd Fighter Group in large escort formations tied to directives from Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder and Allied air commanders. Promotions and staff assignments eventually led Howard to roles involving tactical leadership, mission planning, and interaction with figures from the War Department and later the newly formed United States Air Force.

Medal of Honor action

On January 11, 1944, Howard single-handedly defended a straggling formation of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers against waves of German fighters during a mission over southern Germany. Flying a P-51 Mustang, he made repeated attacks on Luftwaffe formations including aircraft from Jagdgeschwader 2 and Jagdgeschwader 26, engaging Focke-Wulf Fw 190s and Messerschmitt Bf 109s while his own plane sustained damage from enemy fire. Howard's actions protected bombers from the Eighth Air Force's 3rd Bomb Division and the 1st Bomb Division as they withdrew from the target area, directly influencing the survival of crews associated with units like the 91st Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, and elements of the Strategic Air Command's antecedent forces. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor by leadership including representatives of the War Department, and his citation was promulgated alongside other notable aviators such as George Preddy and Don Gentile.

Postwar life and career

After World War II, Howard remained in uniform with the newly established United States Air Force, serving in roles that included tactical staff work, operations planning, and aviation training. He was involved with peacetime assignments at bases including Langley Air Force Base and served in staff positions that linked him with the Air Training Command and NATO planning structures centered on SHAPE initiatives. Howard also engaged with aircraft procurement and testing communities connected to manufacturers such as North American Aviation, Lockheed, and Boeing, and with organizations like the National Aeronautic Association and Experimental Aircraft Association. His postwar decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, and the Legion of Merit.

Personal life

Howard married and had family ties that brought him into contact with veteran organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He participated in commemorative events associated with Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and engaged with educational institutions and museums including the National Air and Space Museum and local air museums that preserved World War II aviation heritage. Later in life he lived in Virginia and took part in civic groups and veteran advocacy linked to federal programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Legacy and honors

Howard's Medal of Honor action has been commemorated by dedications and exhibits at institutions such as the National Museum of the United States Air Force, regional air museums, and memorials associated with the Eighth Air Force Historical Society. Airfields, scholarships, and reunions sponsored by organizations like the Air Force Historical Foundation and the P-51 Mustang Clubs celebrate his legacy alongside other aces including Claire Lee Chennault and Jimmy Doolittle. His combat performance is cited in histories of the strategic bombing campaign and the evolution of fighter escort tactics developed by leaders such as Haywood S. Hansell and Curtis LeMay. Howard remains recognized in registers and halls of fame alongside aviators from the Flying Tigers and contemporaries who served in the Pacific Theater and the European Theater of Operations.

Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Medal of Honor recipients