The President who avoided being eaten by cannibals in WWII
TLDRGeorge H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, is remembered for his unique wartime experience during World War II. At 18, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserves, quickly becoming an ensign and one of the Navy's youngest pilots. Bush participated in significant Pacific campaigns, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. His most dramatic mission occurred over Chichi Jima, where his plane was hit, forcing a water landing. He was rescued after a harrowing ordeal, narrowly avoiding capture by the Japanese. The ordeal was further underscored by the grim fate of fellow airmen captured and killed, with some subjected to cannibalism by Japanese officers—a war crime that was later revealed. Despite the challenges, Bush continued to serve, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and completing 58 combat missions before his honorable discharge in 1945. His wartime experiences were pivotal and remained with him throughout his life.
Takeaways
- 🇺🇸 George H.W. Bush was the last US president to serve in combat during World War II.
- ✈️ At the age of 18, Bush enlisted in the US Naval Reserves, aiming to become an aviator.
- 🏆 He was commissioned as an ensign at 19, believed to be the youngest pilot in the US Navy at the time.
- 🌊 Bush participated in the Pacific campaign of island-hopping and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
- 🔥 He made a forced water landing after his plane was hit during a mission, and was rescued by the USS Clarence K. Bronson.
- 🎖️ On a mission to destroy a radio tower on Chichi Jima, Bush's plane was hit, but he completed the mission before bailing out, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
- 🏝️ After bailing out, Bush faced a struggle to survive in the water and avoid capture by paddling away from the Japanese-held island.
- 🚢 He was rescued by the submarine USS Finback after four hours of being protected by American fighter planes.
- 🥺 Eight fellow aviators were captured, tortured, and killed, with four being cannibalized by their Japanese captors.
- 📚 The full details of the captured Airmen's fate were not known until the publication of the book 'Flyboys' in 2003.
- 🛫 Despite the heavy losses, Bush continued to serve and was honorably discharged in September 1945 after 58 combat missions and 1,228 flight hours.
Q & A
What unique experience did George H.W. Bush have during World War II?
-George H.W. Bush had a unique experience of evading being eaten by cannibals when his plane was shot down during a mission over the island of Chichi Jima.
How old was George Bush when he joined the US Naval Reserves?
-George Bush was 18 years old when he joined the US Naval Reserves after graduating from Phillips Academy.
What was the name of the aircraft carrier that George Bush was sent to as a pilot?
-George Bush was sent to the USS San Jacinto, a light aircraft carrier, as a pilot.
What significant air combat did George Bush participate in during the war?
-George Bush participated in one of the largest air combats of the war, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, in June 1944.
What mission earned George Bush the Distinguished Flying Cross?
-The mission over the island of Chichi Jima, where he successfully bombed a radio tower despite his plane being hit and on fire, earned George Bush the Distinguished Flying Cross.
How did George Bush manage to survive after his plane was hit and he had to bail out?
-After bailing out, Bush landed near a life raft, inflated it, and climbed aboard. He then paddled to stay away from the Japanese-held island until he was rescued by the submarine USS Finback.
What was the fate of the eight aviators who were captured after being shot down on Chichi Jima?
-The eight captured aviators were severely tortured by the Japanese. Four of them were killed, and their bodies were used to prepare a meal for Japanese officers.
What was the role of Dr. T. Rocky in the horrifying incident involving the captured aviators?
-Japanese surgeon Dr. T. Rocky removed the liver from one of the dead US pilots and prepared it with soy sauce and vegetables to be served to Major Matoba and other officers.
When did the public, including George H.W. Bush, learn about the fate of the captured Airmen?
-The public, including George H.W. Bush, learned about the fate of the captured Airmen in 2003 when a study was published in the book 'Flyboys: A True Story of Courage'.
How many combat missions did George H.W. Bush fly during World War II?
-George H.W. Bush flew 58 combat missions during World War II.
What was the reason for George Bush's unit returning to the United States?
-George Bush's unit returned to the United States due to heavy casualties sustained during the war.
When was George H.W. Bush honorably discharged from duty?
-George H.W. Bush was honorably discharged from duty in September 1945.
Outlines
🎖️ George H.W. Bush's WWII Service and Heroism
George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States, had a unique military experience during World War II. As a young man, he narrowly escaped being captured and eaten by cannibals after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite being underage, Bush was determined to serve his country and joined the US Naval Reserves upon turning 18. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an ensign and later a lieutenant junior grade. Bush's bravery was evident as he participated in the Pacific campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. His most notable mission involved a risky bombing run over the island of Chichi Jima, where he was forced to make a water landing. Despite the danger, Bush's resolve was unwavering, and he was ultimately rescued after a harrowing ordeal. His actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, and his story is a testament to his courage and commitment to his country.
🛫 Bush's Post-War Life and Legacy
After his heroic service in World War II, George H.W. Bush continued to serve his country in various capacities. His unit returned to the United States after suffering heavy casualties, and in September 1945, Bush was honorably discharged. His military career included 58 combat missions, 126 carrier landings, and 1228 flight hours. The mission over Chichi Jima, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, was particularly memorable for him. Bush's life after the war was marked by a continued dedication to public service, culminating in his election as the 41st President of the United States. His experiences during the war shaped his character and leadership style, leaving a lasting legacy on American history.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡George HW Bush
💡World War II
💡US Naval Reserves
💡USS San Jacinto
💡Island-hopping
💡Battle of the Philippine Sea
💡Distinguished Flying Cross
💡Cannibalism
💡Japanese-held Island
💡USS Finback
💡Carrier Landings
Highlights
George HW Bush, the last US president to serve in combat, had a unique military experience.
He narrowly escaped being eaten by cannibals during World War II.
At the age of 17, Bush was inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbor to enlist in the military.
He initially considered enlisting in Canada but chose to become a US Navy aviator instead.
Bush signed up for the US Naval Reserves on June 13, 1942, at the age of 18.
He was commissioned as an ensign and was believed to be the youngest pilot in the US Navy at 19 years old.
Bush participated in the Pacific campaign of island hopping against Japanese-held islands.
He fought over Marcos and Wake Island and took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944.
Bush was involved in a dramatic forced landing on water after a mission, his first crash in the war.
He was promoted to lieutenant junior grade in August 1944 and received a critical mission to destroy a radio tower on Chichi Jima.
Bush's plane was hit during the mission, but he continued to dive and successfully damaged the target.
He and his crew bailed out of the burning plane and were rescued by the USS Finback submarine.
Eight other aviators were captured, tortured, and killed, with four of them being cannibalized by the Japanese.
The gruesome details of the captured Airmen's fate were kept secret until the publication of 'Flyboys' in 2003.
Bush returned to combat and was honorably discharged in September 1945 with numerous accolades.
He flew 58 combat missions, had 126 carrier landings, and accumulated 1,228 flight hours.
The mission over Chichi Jima earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Bush's wartime experiences were among the most memorable moments of his life.
Transcripts
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