GHWBush rest in peace

StrategyPage has a photo of Lt Bush in his Avenger torpedo bomber:

 (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

WaPost has the story of his World War II service and about how he was shot down and survived when a submarine picked him up.

History.com has more on the story:

According to the Navy’s records, Bush’s squadron was conducting a bombing mission on a Japanese installation on the island of Chi Chi Jima in the Pacific when they encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. The engine on Bush’s plane was set ablaze, yet Bush managed to release his bombs and head back toward the aircraft carrier San Jacinto before bailing out over the water. Three other crew members perished in the attack. After floating on a raft for four hours, a submarine crew fished a safe but exhausted Bush out of the water. His bravery in action earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross. The previous June, Bush had experienced a similar close call with death when he was forced to make a crash landing on water after a bombing run; a U.S. destroyer crew rescued him from the sea. After his harrowing experience near Chi Chi Jima, Bush returned to the San Jacinto and continued to pilot torpedo bombers in several successful missions.
Over the course of 1944, while his squadron suffered a 300 percent casualty rate among its pilots, an undaunted Bush won three Air Medals as well as a Presidential Unit Citation. In total, Bush flew 58 combat missions during the war.

Sigh.

one rarely hears such stories about politicians today: indeed, as the Arizona Senate race suggests, if you risk your life piloting a plane in war, you are more likely to lose to a bimbo who thinks joining the enemy to kill innocent people including American soldiers is fine...