George H. W. Bush Lieutenant Junior Grade, On September 2, 1944 Lieutenant Junior Grade George Herbert Walker Bush, then a pilot with Torpedo Squadron Fifty-One (VT-51 ) assigned to the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) external link , flew a bombing mission against a Japanese radio station on Chichi Jima. Despite his TBM Avenger being struck by heavy anti-aircraft fire before reaching the target, Lt.(jg) Bush pressed onward to deliver his payload of four 500-lb. bombs. This dedication to the completion of his mission earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Shortly thereafter, clouds of smoke enveloped the cockpit and Bush evacuated the aircraft 1,500 feet above the ocean. Radioman Second Class John Delaney and gunner Lieutenant Junior Grade William White were not so fortunate. One of them died when his parachute failed to open and the other went down with the aircraft. Lieutenant Doug West, an Avenger pilot from VT-51, strafed a Japanese boat that attempted to capture Bush as he as paddled his inflatable life raft out to sea.
Fighter planes in the area then transmitted his position to the submarine Finback (SS-230) external link patrolling nearby waters to rescue downed aviators. A few hours later the submarine sighted him, but being plucked from the ocean did not completely put an end to the danger. Bush, along with four other pilots, stayed with the submarine for the next thirty days, the remainder of her patrol. During this time period, Finback sank two small freighters and endured attacks by bombs and depth charges. The pilots also stood watch searching for enemy planes and vessels.
Shortly thereafter, clouds of smoke enveloped the cockpit and Bush evacuated the aircraft 1,500 feet above the ocean. Radioman Second Class John Delaney and gunner Lieutenant Junior Grade William White were not so fortunate. One of them died when his parachute failed to open and the other went down with the aircraft. Lieutenant Doug West, an Avenger pilot from VT-51, strafed a Japanese boat that attempted to capture Bush as he as paddled his inflatable life raft out to sea.
Fighter planes in the area then transmitted his position to the submarine Finback (SS-230) external link patrolling nearby waters to rescue downed aviators. A few hours later the submarine sighted him, but being plucked from the ocean did not completely put an end to the danger. Bush, along with four other pilots, stayed with the submarine for the next thirty days, the remainder of her patrol. During this time period, Finback sank two small freighters and endured attacks by bombs and depth charges. The pilots also stood watch searching for enemy planes and vessels.
