James Thompson Stewart was born on April 2, 1921, in St. Louis City, Missouri. He was married to Georgia M. Schwepker Stewart. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1938 and attended the University of Michigan before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1941. During WWII, Stewart commanded the 508th Bombardment Squadron of the 351st Bomb Group, flying two combat tours over Europe. Notably, he amassed nearly 60 missions, a rare accomplishment.
After World War II, James T. Stewart completed his aerospace engineering degree at the University of Michigan in 1948 and went on to pioneer advancements in cruise control and nuclear delivery for jet fighters at Eglin Air Force Base. In the early 1950s, he served in Tokyo with the Far East Air Forces, where he helped develop nuclear-capable F‑84 fighter operations during the Korean War. Stewart later held influential roles in research and development, including at the Air Force Systems Command and as staff director of the National Reconnaissance Office. From 1964 to 1967, he directed the Air Force’s space systems efforts and served as vice director of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. Promoted to lieutenant general in June 1970, he led the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base until his retirement in 1976.
LtG Stewart died on September 3, 1990, and is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.
Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, /www.af.mil, military-history.fandom.com