10. Stewart remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1968
In April 1945, Stewart received his promotion to full colonel, assigned as the Chief of Staff for 2nd Air Division, a non-flying position. The war in Europe ended the following month. In September he returned to the United States, traveling on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, which had been converted to a troopship during the war. He was one of the millions who returned to America in Operation Magic Carpet. To reporters and friends, he downplayed his military service and refused to attend formal events welcoming him home. To one he commented that thousands of men “did far more meaningful things”. He was transferred, at his request, to the Air Force Reserve.
When Stewart returned to Hollywood he had a section added to his contract which forbade the studio from referring to his military service in connection with any of his movies. He seldom spoke of it himself. He allowed Life Magazine to photograph his return to his family home in Indiana, Pennsylvania, but in Hollywood, he ignored requests for interviews and welcome home parties. Much later, in-semiretirement, Stewart referred to World War II and his service therein as the greatest experience of his life. Today, Stewart’s bomber jacket is on display in the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.