Great men at War,
Military and Political,
- Biography of George Bush,President of the United States from 1989-1993.
'On active duty from August 1942 to September 1945 during World War
II, Mr. Bush flew torpedo bombers [TBF] off the USS San Jacinto
[Independence class, light cruiser conversion, named after 1836 battle
of the Texas Revolution]. On September 2, 1944, Mr. Bush's plane was
hit by anti-aircraft fire while making a bombing run over the Bonin
Island of Chichi Jima, 600 miles south of Japan [....] rescued by a
Navy submarine, the USS Finback. Tragically, his two crew members were
killed. For his courageous service in the Pacific Theater, Mr. Bush
was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.'
As has been mentioned already, he was the youngest Navy pilot ever
to fly combat missions, and AFAIK that record still stands.He was just
over 18 years old.
He was awarded a medal, I believe the Navy Cross for this second
incident, in which he pressed on and attacked his target even after his
plane had been hit and his crewmen killed.
- Winston Churchill Archives Homepage,British Prime Minister,guided Britain through WW II.
- The Patton Webpages,General George S.Patton from USA army.