The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, GA, has announced its role as a historical resource for JIMMY, an upcoming film starring KJ Apa as actor and WWII combat pilot James M. “Jimmy” Stewart. The museum provided archival photographs, historical records, firsthand accounts and staff expertise to help the production team portray Stewart’s wartime service with the Eighth Air Force.
Stewart served in the Eighth Air Force’s 2nd Air Division, flying B-24 Liberator combat missions over Europe. The museum’s contributions helped the filmmakers explore the people, places and experiences that shaped his military service, connecting the preservation of wartime history with efforts to introduce it to new audiences. “It has been an honor and a privilege for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force to provide its historical collections and subject expertise to JIMMY,” stated Scott W. Loehr, the museum’s president and CEO. “James M. Stewart embodied the very best of the Greatest Generation. May present and future generations continue to find inspiration from his selfless service.”
Director Aaron Burns also acknowledged the museum’s contributions, which helped the production recreate Stewart’s world through historical photographs and other materials, alongside flight logs and handwritten family notes. “The team that came together on JIMMY each had a part in telling Jimmy’s story. From his flight logs and handwritten notes from the family to photos and historical detail provided by the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, we were able to recreate the world that Jimmy lived in — for which we are eternally grateful and look forward to sharing his story with audiences across the nation,” Burns said.
The film explores Stewart’s transition from Hollywood to military service and the experiences that shaped his return to civilian life. Apa, who portrays Stewart, said the actor’s willingness to leave his career and personal life behind to serve his country was central to the story. “Jimmy Stewart, along with millions of others, were willing to leave their families, careers and passions behind because they felt a deep sense of duty to their country. That is why I have so much admiration for him. It is his values that make JIMMY so special,” Apa said. JIMMY will open exclusively in theaters on November 6, 2026. More information about the museum’s involvement is available at mightyeighth.org/jimmy-movie. To support the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, click on this link: www.mightyeighth.org.
(Image credit: National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.)
