Re: CBS Goes To Far!

From: A Nengineer (root_at_nowhere.inthe.cc)
Date: 09/25/04

  • Next message: Aussie Fred: "Re: Mail is rejected for a new user" 
    Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 04:12:36 GMT

    charles hill wrote:
    > On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 19:51:25 +0000, libs stink wrote:
    >
    >
    > George Bush is a coward just like his daddy.

    Lieutenant Junior Grade George Bush, USNR

    Related resources:

    * LTJG George Bush's citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross
    * Christman, Timothy J. "Vice President Bush Calls WW II Experience
    'Sobering.'; Naval Aviation News 67 (Mar-Apr 1985): 12-15.
    * George Bush in World War II: A Short Bibliography.

    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.

    Former Lieutenant George Herbert Walker Bush, U.S. Naval Reserve
    Transcript Of Naval Service

    12 JUN 1924 Born in Milton, Massachusetts
    13 JUN 1942 Enlisted in U.S. Naval Reserve
    5 AUG 1942 Reported for Active Duty
    8 JUN 1943 Honorably Discharged
    9 JUN 1943 Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve and continued on Active Duty
    1 AUG 1944 Lieutenant (junior grade)
    18 SEP 1945 Released from Active Duty under honorable conditions
    16 NOV 1948 Lieutenant
    24 OCT 1955 Resignation accepted under honorable conditions

         SHIPS AND STATIONS

    U.S. Naval Air Station, June 1943-Aug. 1943
    Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Instrn)

    Naval Air Operational Aug. 1943-Aug. 1943
    Training Command
    Carrier Qualification Training Unit
    U.S. Naval Air Station, Glenview, Ill. (Instrn)

    Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Aug. 1943-Sept. 1943
    U.S. Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va. (Instrn)

    Carrier Aircraft Service 21 Sept. 1943-Sept. 1943
    (Instrn)

    Torpedo Squadron 51 (Naval Aviator) Sept. 1943-Dec. 1943

    Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Dec. 1944-Feb. 1945
    U.S.Naval
    Air Station, Norfolk, Va.

    Torpedo Squadron 97 Feb. 1945-March 1945

    Torpedo Squadron 153(Naval Aviator) March 1945-Sept. 1945

    Headquarters, FIFTH Naval District Sept. 1945-Sept. 1945

         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)

         RESERVE AFFILIATION
         NONE (Resigned 24 Oct 1955)

         Other documents related to LTJG Bush at the Naval Historical Center:

    * Torpedo Squadron FIFTY-ONE's Aircraft Action Report of 2 September
    1944,World War II Reports, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical
    Center
    * Extracts from USS Finback's Tenth War Patrol Report on rescue of LTJG
    Bush, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center
    * Carrier Air Group TWENTY's Aircraft Action Report of 2 September 1944,
    World War II Reports, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center

    [FEEL FREE TO STFU WHENEVER YOU FINALLY REALIZE YOU'RE IN WAY OVER YOUR
    HEAD]

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