8. Stewart developed the reputation of being a pilot blessed with luck
On January 7, 1944, Stewart, by then a major, was leading his group back to England after a bombing mission over Germany when another group began to veer off course. When the errant group’s leader ignored Stewart’s warning, he chose to lead his group to follow them, giving them the added protection of his guns. Over 60 Luftwaffe fighters attacked the two groups. Several bombers were lost, including that of the leader of the errant group. Stewart’s Liberator was in the thick of the fighting, but arrived safely in England. His leadership undoubtedly saved the lives of several airmen in the leading group, which otherwise would have faced the fighter onslaught alone.
On another mission in late February, Stewart’s Liberator was hit by German flak, severely damaging the aircraft. Stewart managed to fly the crippled bomber home, but upon landing the damaged fuselage broke in two. All members of his crew were uninjured. After inspecting the wreckage of his airplane Stewart mused, “somebody sure could get hurt in one of those damned things”. Stewart flew 20 bombing missions in Liberators before transferring to the 453rd Bomb Group based in Buckenham, where he was assigned as the operations officer. Though a staff position, he continued to fly as a co-pilot on several more missions in the group’s lead aircraft. The 453rd flew B-17s.