Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Snow Bunny
Good job on the thread, great choice for Freeper Friday too.

Lieutenant Junior Grade George Bush, USNR

G. W's father was also an aviator

Upon hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack, while a student at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., George Bush decided he wanted to join the Navy to become an aviator. Six months later, after graduation, he enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday and began preflight training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing the 10-month course, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 9 June 1943, several days before his 19th birthday; making him the youngest naval aviator then.

After finishing flight training, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron (VT-51) as photographic officer in September 1943. As part of Air Group 51, his squadron was based on USS San Jacinto in the spring of 1944. San Jacinto was part of Task Force 58 that participated in operations against Marcus and Wake Islands in May, and then in the Marianas during June. On 19 June, the task force triumphed in one of the largest air battles of the war. During the return of his aircraft from the mission, Ensign Bush's aircraft made a forced water landing. The destroyer, USS Clarence K. Bronson, rescued the crew, but the plane was lost. On 25 July, Ensign Bush and another pilot received credit for sinking a small cargo ship.

After Bush was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on 1 August, San Jacinto commenced operations against the Japanese in the Bonin Islands. On 2 September 1944, Bush piloted one of four aircraft from VT-51 that attacked the Japanese installations on Chi Chi Jima. For this mission his crew included Radioman Second Class John Delaney, and Lieutenant Junior Grade William White, USNR, who substituted for Bush's regular gunner. During their attack, four TBM Avengers from VT-51 encountered intense antiaircraft fire. While starting the attack, Bush's aircraft was hit and his engine caught on fire. He completed his attack and released the bombs over his target scoring several damaging hits. With his engine on fire, Bush flew several miles from the island, where he and one other crew member on the TBM Avenger bailed out of the aircraft. However, the other man's chute did not open and he fell to his death. It was never determined which man bailed out with Bush. Both Delaney and White were killed in action. While Bush anxiously waited four hours in his inflated raft, several fighters circled protectively overhead until he was rescued by the lifeguard submarine, USS Finback. For this action, Bush received the Distinguished Flying Cross. During the month he remained on Finback, Bush participated in the rescue of other pilots.

Subsequently, Bush returned to San Jacinto in November 1944 and participated in operations in the Philippines. When San Jacinto returned to Guam, the squadron, which had suffered 50 percent casualties of its pilots, was replaced and sent to the United States. Throughout 1944, he had flown 58 combat missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation awarded San Jacinto.

Because of his valuable combat experience, Bush was reassigned to Norfolk and put in a training wing for new torpedo pilots. Later, he was assigned as a naval aviator in a new torpedo squadron, VT-153. With the surrender of Japan, he was honorably discharged in September 1945 and then entered Yale University

PERSONAL DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Air Medal with two gold stars in lieu of subsequent awards
Presidential Unit Citation awarded USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)

58 posted on 11/01/2002 5:44:05 AM PST by SAMWolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: All
Good morning. Hope your day is great...
59 posted on 11/01/2002 5:50:46 AM PST by firewalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: Snow Bunny; coteblanche; Kathy in Alaska; bluesagewoman; MoJo2001; radu; LindaSOG; AntiJen; ...

Marines from Marine Squardron VMFA-323 do hand-to-hand combat training in the hangar bay of the USS Constellation, Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, during training exercises in the waters off Southern California. The USS Constellation and its battle group will leave San Diego later this week for a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The aircraft carrier Constellation with 72 warplanes aboard will head for the Gulf on November 2, 2002, the latest piece in a quiet U.S. buildup off Iraq, Navy officials said on October 18. The 88,000-ton Constellation, seem in this undated file photo, will be the third U.S. carrier in the region. It was sticking to a schedule worked out at least nine months ago, and not being accelerated due to the Iraqi crisis officials said. (U.S. Navy (news - web sites)/Reuters)

Navy Capt. John Miller directs operations from the bridge of the USS Constellation during training exercises in the waters off of Southern California Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 . The USS Constellation and its battle group will leave San Diego later this week for a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Flight deck crew on the USS Constellation prepare two F/A-18 Hornets for launch as a smoke trail for from another plane is left on the deck Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, during training exercises in the waters off of Southern California. The USS Constellation and its battle group will leave San Diego later this week for a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The flight deck crew prepares for a launch as planes line up during flight operations on the USS Constellation Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, during training exercises in the waters off of Southern California. The USS Constellation and its battle group will leave San Diego later this week for a six-month Persian Gulf deployment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

60 posted on 11/01/2002 5:51:11 AM PST by SAMWolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: SAMWolf
Good morning, Sam.

Thanks for including information about George H. W. Bush's service in today's thread.

I was aware that his plane had been shot down over Chi Chi Jima; what people might not know is that several airmen who were unfortunate enough to be captured there were decapitated and cannibalized by the Japanese on the island.

I would have been "anxious", too!

Thanks again for digging that up.
68 posted on 11/01/2002 7:17:55 AM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: SAMWolf
Thanks, Sam, for the information on our President's father, the first President Bush.
167 posted on 11/01/2002 4:16:51 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson