On January 11, 1944, Major James Howell Howard, serving in the Air Corps of the United States Army as commander of the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, led fifty P-51 Mustangs to escort three divisions of B-17 Flying Fortresses on a raid against Oschersleben, near Berlin, Germany. When Luftwaffe fighters attacked the bomber formation, Major Howard promptly engaged in combat, successfully shooting down a twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer long-range fighter. Despite being separated from his group during the engagement, Howard managed to climb back and rejoin the bomber formation.
More than thirty German fighters were attacking the bomber formation, and Major Howard took on the challenge single-handedly. He successfully shot down two enemy aircraft, likely downed two more, and inflicted damage on at least two others. Despite running out of ammunition and facing low fuel levels, he persisted in his attacks. Upon his return to RAF Boxted, Major Howard’s Mustang bore just a single bullet hole.
In recognition of his actions, James H. Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him by Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz on January 11, 1945. He holds the distinction of being the sole fighter pilot in the European Theater to receive this prestigious medal. Additionally, Howard was promoted to the rank of colonel.
The President of the United States, on behalf of Congress, is pleased to present the Medal of Honor to
HOWARD, JAMES H. (Air Mission)
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, displayed remarkable courage and valor above and beyond the call of duty during a mission over Oschersleben, Germany, on January 11, 1944. Leading a group of P-51 aircraft to support a heavy bomber formation deep within enemy territory, Colonel Howard encountered a fierce onslaught of enemy fighters. Despite losing contact with his group, Colonel Howard immediately returned to the bomber formation, where he observed the intense enemy attacks and the absence of friendly fighters. Rather than waiting to regroup, he fearlessly engaged a formation of over 30 German airplanes alone. With extraordinary bravery and determination, he relentlessly attacked the enemy for approximately thirty minutes, destroying three enemy aircraft and likely damaging others, despite facing multiple handicaps such as the malfunctioning of his guns and dwindling fuel supply. Colonel Howard’s exceptional skill, courage, and selflessness in protecting the bombers against overwhelming odds serve as a shining example of heroism, inspiring all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
James Howell Howard, born on April 8, 1913, in Canton (Guangzhou), China, was the second child among three born to Dr. Harvey James Howard and Maude Irene Strobel. His father, Dr. Harvey James Howard, served as an ophthalmologist at the University Medical School in Canton, China, previously known as the Canton Christian College. Later, he became the chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing.
At the age of 11, James and his father were abducted by Manchurian bandits and held captive for ten weeks before managing to escape. Subsequently, the family departed from Shanghai aboard the 535-foot Pacific Mail cargo liner S.S. President Lincoln on July 21, 1923, and arrived in San Francisco, California, on August 8, 1923.
Howard went to The Haverford School in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, and subsequently attended John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Pomona College in southern California in 1937.
With blond hair and blue eyes, standing at 6 feet, 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall, and weighing 160 pounds (72.6 kilograms), he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the United States Naval Reserve. His flight training commenced at NAS Pensacola, Florida, on December 29, 1937. He successfully completed his training and earned the designation of Naval Aviator on February 1, 1939, subsequently receiving a commission as an ensign in the USNR.
In 1939, Ensign Howard was stationed with Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6) on board the USS Enterprise (CV-6). In 1940, he was then assigned to the Naval Air Station San Diego, located on the southern coast of California.
Ensign Howard tendered his resignation from the Navy on June 21, 1941, and subsequently traveled to Burma to work for the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company, which served as a front for the 1st American Volunteer Group, famously known as the “Flying Tigers.” Assigned to lead the AVG 2nd Pursuit Squadron, Howard piloted the Curtiss-Wright Hawk 81-A3 and was credited with the destruction of six Imperial Japanese Army Nakajima Ki-27 Army Type 97 fighters.
Howard received his commission as a captain in the United States Army Air Corps on January 31, 1943, and was subsequently assigned to the 354th Fighter Group, which deployed overseas. Later, as a Major, he assumed command of the 356th Fighter Squadron stationed at RAF Boxted. His rank was elevated to lieutenant colonel in February 1944 and then to Colonel on November 25, 1945. With the conclusion of World War II, he was honorably discharged from active duty on November 30, 1945.
After the war, Colonel Howard continued his service in the Army Air Forces reserve. In 1947, he transitioned to the newly formed United States Air Force Reserve. On March 22, 1948, he was elevated to the rank of brigadier general. He assumed command of the 96th Bomb Wing.
General Howard tied the knot with Lieutenant Mary G. Balles of the Women’s Army Corps on July 18, 1948, at Smoky Hill Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas. Lieutenant Balles served as a personnel officer with the 52nd Fighter Wing stationed at Mitchel Field, New York. However, their marriage ended in divorce just six months later.
Later on December 31, 1953, Howard married Florence Ochs Buteau in Brooksville, Maryland.
In addition to receiving the Medal of Honor, General Howard was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster (two awards), and ten Air Medals.
Brigadier General Howard retired from the U.S. Air Force 1 June 1965.
He was the author of Roar of the Tiger (Orion Books, New York, 1991).
Brigadier General James Howell Howard, United States Air Force (Retired), died at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, Florida, 18 March 1995. He was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
James Howard named his P-51 Mustang “DING HAO!” and adorned it with the victory marks earned from his AVG combat missions. The term “Ding Hao” originated from the Chinese phrase 挺好的 (“ting hao de”), which translates to “very good” or “number one,” and became a popular American World War II slang term.
P-51 Mustang is a single-seat, single-engine long-range fighter aircraft. Featuring a low-wing monoplane design with retractable landing gear, it is constructed entirely of metal. Powered by a liquid-cooled V-12 engine, the Mustang was initially manufactured for the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom under the designation Mustang Mk.I. Subsequently, two units were supplied to the U.S. Army Air Corps, designated as XP-51. This led to orders for the P-51A and the A-36 Apache dive bomber variant. The early models of the Mustang were equipped with the Allison V-1750 engine, which also powered aircraft such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and drove a three-bladed propeller.
In 1942, shortly after the introduction of the first production Mustang Mk.I in England, Rolls-Royce initiated experiments using a borrowed aircraft, AM121, into which they installed the Merlin 61 engine from the Supermarine Spitfire. This led to the creation of an aircraft with significantly improved performance.
In the United States, the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, initiated the production of Merlin engines under Rolls-Royce license. These American-manufactured engines were designated as V-1650. North American adapted two P-51s from the assembly line to incorporate the Packard V-1650-3 engines, known as XP-51B. Testing demonstrated the exceptional performance of this new variant, prompting the Army Air Corps to restrict its order for P-51As to 310 aircraft, shifting production to the P-51B model.
On July 23, 1944, James H. Howard’s P-51B Mustang, named DING HAO!, was lost in combat.
