James Stewart Foley III
“J. Stewart Foley”
Pilot USAAF/WWII
Biography
“J. Stewart Foley”
Pilot USAAF/WWII
Biography
teenager during the Great Depression. He worked doing anything he could (digging
ditches, etc.) to provide food for his mother and sister. Wanted to fly as a pilot
when WWII broke out, but had no higher mathematics. Taught himself Calculus in
six weeks to pass the qualifying exam to meet the Army Air Force entrance requirements
for pilot’s training. Once in the service, he took up dualing, sword-fighter.
He boasted many scars from getting cut up with a real saber.
Became a bomber pilot and served in the Pacific Theater against the Imperial Japanese
navy and army. Was shot down, captured and made a POW on some unknown island (maybe PI?).
Got malaria, dysentery, severe malnutrition and lost some of his teeth. His fellow
prisoners were dying. He managed to escape, maybe with some comrades. He was found
by the U.S. and sent to hospital. After hospital, he went home. Either he did
or he did not serve as a United States Air Force Test Pilot after the war (unconfirmed).
Jets were becoming the mainstay aircraft. His wife did not allow him to die as
a test pilot.
Flight Training School. Marion was daughter of Texan oilman Thomas “Tommy” Shaw
– 3rd richest oilman. Marion Shaw became Mrs. J. Stewart Foley. Their home together
was on Hilltop Road in Ft. Worth, Texas. Marion was a Type I Diabetic all her
life. Stewart cared for her and kept her seeing the best specialists from all
around the world. They were married for over 50 years.
No children, but Marion had daughter from previous marriage, Sandra.
Sandra was not raised by Stewart and Marion.
Sandra had a daughter and a son from her first marriage. Sandra’s
later marriage was to a Russian immigrant, Yonn Maxx, a Surrealistic painter.
Devils Den, Tishomingo, Oklahoma was home to a recreational resort owned by Sandra.
Yonn died early due to complications with alcoholism.
Stewart was a successful salesman during his professional career. He represented clothing
manufacturers and the textile industry. His major accounts were clothing departments
of big department stores. He won a nationally recognized award for “Salesman of
the Year”.
Marion died in the late 1990’s. Stewart died of Alzheimer's in
a convalescent hospital around the Dallas / Ft. Worth area soon after.
J. Stewart Foley back from
Officer Training School.
