John Stinson Howell III was born on December 24, 1919 in Sebewaing, Michigan. He attended school in Rochester, Michigan and was elected to the National Honor Society upon graduation from Rochester High School.
From 1939 to 1942 Mr. Howell studied physics at The University of Arizona. During this period he completed a civilian pilots training course. In August of 1942 Mr. Howell enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Force and was called to active duty in March of 1943. He completed his pre-flight training at San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center with a 99.8% average and was chosen for pilot training. He was the co-winner of the Harmon Trophy for outstanding cadets and graduated with a top scholastic grade of 99.2%. He received his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1944. Mr. Howell completed transition training to the B-24 Bomber at Tarrant Field in Fort Worth. Crew training in this aircraft was completed in Casper, Wyoming where his crew was selected best of the 78 crews in the training section.
In August 1944 Mr. Howell arrived in Italy and joined the 824th Bomb Squadron in the 484 Bomb Group. He participated in bombing raids over France, Northern Italy, the Balkans, Poland, and Germany. Mr. Howell was promoted to Flight Commander in December 1944.
On February 1, 1945 during mission number twenty; Mr. Howell's aircraft was shot down over Vienna, Austria. Mr. Howell spent February and March in Hungary and Romania as a "guest" of the Russian Army. As a result of his actions during this period, Mr. Howell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the European Theater of Operations Ribbon. He was authorized to wear 8 bronze battle stars for service in Rome - Arno, Southern France, Air Combat in the Balkans, Northern France, Rhineland, Northern Apennines, Central Europe and Po Valley Campaigns.
In 1945, after the war, Mr. Howell entered the University of Michigan as an undergraduate in the Mechanical Engineering Department. During this period Mr. Howell received many honors. He graduated with a 3.85 average - the highest attained in a graduating class of 432.
In mid-1949 he joined Convair (now Lockheed Martin) in Fort Worth, Texas as a tool designer. While at Convair he invented the JETCAL® Analyzer.
In April of 1951 B & H Instrument Company was formed. In 1954 he formed Howell Instruments and Howco, Inc. and in 1960 the companies were merged and Howell Instruments, Inc., was formed.
The following years brought wide usage of the Jetcal Analyzer by the Air Force, Navy, and Army, as well as commercial airlines and military services of allied nations. From this one product a number of other instruments evolved. Temperature and speed indicators were developed and installed in many commercial and military aircraft. Engine health monitoring systems have improved safety of flight and reduced maintenance costs in many aircraft. John Howell was believed to be the nation's most experienced individual in designing and manufacturing equipment for testing and calibrating jet aircraft engines.
John Howell was an exceptional man, husband and father.