Veterans Get Victory Lap in Indy Parade-- Part 5: Jimmy Stewart Was His Briefing Officer for D-Day

Movie actor Jimmy Stewart was Bob Perdigo's briefing officer who spoke to the men of Bob's 453rd Bombardment Group (bombers) the day before D-Day.

"On June 5, 1944, the day before D-Day, Jimmy Stewart called us out a squadron at a time, out in the middle of a big wheat field," Perdigo recalled.  "We knew something was coming."

Stewart said, " Fellas, we're on a restricted red alert, and nobody's coming or going on the base.  We got a big mission in the morning, so get to bed early, get your rest."

"We're standing in wheat up to my chest, all of us," for security reasons, Perdigo said.  "He didn't say what the mission was, but we surmised.  We'd been anticipating it."

--GreGen