His very special treatment included instant admission to flight training and an extraordinary commission as a second lieutenant.
I'd like to know what is so "extraordinary" about a commission as a second lieutenant. I believe that rank is the lowest officer rank in the Air Force. Most flyers are given an officer's rank, so starting Mr. Bush at that rank shouldn't be extraordinary at all.
But in May 1972, only 22 months after he completed pilot training, he stopped flying.
Many people stopped flying at that time. The military had more pilots than they could use, and getting time in the planes was difficult. Many pilots were showing up at the air field at five in the morning hoping to get a plane. If they weren't at the very top of their class, they often didn't get flying time. Many opted to quit being pilots and serve out the rest of their commitments in other ways.
In fact, there is considerable evidence that Mr. Bush skipped all duty for a full year, until April 1973.
As previous posters have already shown, this statement simply isn't true. The writer is either being dishonest or hasn't done his homework.
WFTR
Bill
I'll take the First Answers to Rhetorical Questions for 500, Alex.
Many people stopped flying at that time. The military had more pilots than they could use, and getting time in the planes was difficult. Many pilots were showing up at the air field at five in the morning hoping to get a plane. If they weren't at the very top of their class, they often didn't get flying time. Many opted to quit being pilots and serve out the rest of their commitments in other ways.
Actually, there is a very good reason he stopped flying. In 1972, they began phasing out the 102s from active service. So there was no reason to stay current on a plane that was being mothballed.
That also answers why he didn't take a flight physical, he wasn't going to fly anymore. His stint was nearly up and he wasn't planning on staying in, so training to fly another plane was out of the question.