Los Angeles' airport would be renamed Jimmy Stewart International Airport if a county supervisor gets his way.
The film star flew 20 World War II combat missions - reason enough to honor him, supervisor Mike Antonovich said Tuesday."Few people realize that Gen. James (Jimmy) Stewart played an important role in World War II," Antonovich said. "Rather than taking the opportunity to stay in Hollywood, he chose to fight. And fight, he did."
Antonovich said he will ask other board members to support his recommendation to the city Airport Commission.
Stewart, whose films include "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Vertigo," joined the Army Air Corps at age 32. He was assigned to command the 703rd Squadron in England before becoming colonel of the 2nd Air Division, Antonovich said. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, Stewart served as an Air Force reserve officer and retired at age 60. He was 89 when he died July 2.