Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 1

88 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 MY STEWART AIRPORT T he town of Bedford Falls, home of the Old Bailey Savings and Loan and the fictional setting of the famous movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, was supposed to be just Anytown USA. But one could be forgiven if they thought it was in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. After all, that is the birthplace of James Maitland Stewart, better known as Jimmy – the Academy Award-winning actor who graced our screens for decades and got his start as George Bailey in 1946. Indiana County – a rural area filled with adventures both indoors and out, a Jimmy Stewart Museum, and the Christmas Tree Capital of the world. It is also the home of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Indiana County Jimmy Stewart Airport. It’s true, Jimmy Stewart was also an amateur pilot. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and fought as a fighter pilot in the European theater, attaining the rank of Colonel. Afterwards, he served in the reserve and was promoted by President Ronald Reagan A V I E W T O T H E F U T U R E