President George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States has passed at age 94. He won the wings of a Naval Aviator at age 18. He trained as a torpedo bomber pilot and was assigned to VT-51 aboard USS San Jacinto from which he flew 58 combat missions. On September 2, 1944 while attacking a Japanese radio station on the island of Chichi Jima his aircraft was hit by ground fire. He completed his attack and bailed out. He spent 4 hours in his life raft before being rescued by the USS Finback. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 3 Air Medals. Following are some pics from the internet and a copy of the award card for the DFC. Rest in Peace President Bush. Fair Winds and Following Seas.

 

 

Amen

Chichi Jima, site of that action, was occupied by the USN in the post war years. It was also where the fate of captured airmen was to be beaten, tortured and consumed by the starving garrison.

 

Chichi Jima Incident - war crime trials https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichijima_incident

Nine airmen escaped from their planes after being shot down during bombing raids on Chichi Jima, a tiny island 700 miles (1,100 km) south of Tokyo, in September 1944. Eight were captured. The ninth, the only one to evade capture, was future US President George H. W. Bush, then a 20-year-old pilot.

 

Moved topic to 'Taps' as mor appropriate. Bobgee