readers of this blog will realise that my profile picture is one of that fine film actor James Stewart. I don't recollect ever seeing a film of his that I did not enjoy, be it aviation, comedy, thriller or western. I also don't think that I have ever read, or heard, anything untoward about him.

I would also mention that he voluntarily enlisted in the USAAF during WW2 as a private. He went on to serve as a bomber pilot leading 20 missions over Germany and reached the rank of Colonel. He continued to serve as a reservist until the late 1950s attaining the rank of Brigadier General.
There is an excellent book Jimmy Stewart - Bomber Pilot by Starr Smith which is all about his flying career.

He was an unassuming man, full of old-world courtesy who had a lifelong film career and marriage. These, along with his commitment to his country via his distinguished military service surely makes him a prime example of a true celebrity. That is why is he is the person that I most emphasise with.

Tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday 28 August, Five TV is showing the 1957 film The Spirit of St.Louis starting at 12.30pm. This superb Billy Wilder film stars James Stewart as Charles A.Lindbergh, being a dramatised account of his 1927 solo transatlantic flight.

I dance through the sky on shining red wings,
I loop and I roll and do other such things;
And when I 'm up here I have not a care,
for here I belong I'm at peace in the air;
The blue and the green of the earth dance before me,
as good friends look up and see me performing;
This dance that I do for the people to see,
takes lots of hard work but it's all fun to me;
So when I come down just ask me to dance,
we'll waltz through the clouds if you just take the chance.

This is one of my favourite poems written in 1997 by Timothy S.Bastian. Pilot, aircraft mechanic and flight instructor who flies aerobatic, seaplane and tail-wheel aircraft.

Anyone who loves books and reading may be interested in my BookBuffs weblog.

I am more than happy to refer, and link, to other blogs and entries here, and elsewhere, that are about books.

You'll see that I do that with book reviews in particular. Blog friends EthelRed here and Quagga over on 20six have both done excellent book review entries recently that I've done that with.

Do please let me know if you have an entry that you'd like me to do the same with.