George H.W. Bush shot down

2nd September 1944: A young naval airman narrowly escapes a terrible fate when he parachutes into the sea off ChiChi Jima

Bush flew a dive bombing attack on a heavily defended Japanese radio station on 2nd September 1944.

One day after his 18th birthday, 13 June 1942, Bush enlisted as a seaman, 2nd class, in the United States Naval Reserve. He was appointed an aviation cadet and underwent preflight training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He was honorably discharged 8 June, and commissioned as an ensign, United States Naval Reserve, 9 June 1943. At the age of 19 years, 2 days, he became the youngest Naval Aviator in history at the time

By August 1944 Bush was an experienced airman with VT-51 flying from the USS San Jacinto.

On 2nd September 1944 Lieutenant George W. H. Bush, an Avenger pilot with VT-51 on the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), was ordered to lead an attack on a Japanese radio station on the island of ChiChi Jima. He continued with the dive bomb attack after his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and then managed to get his aircraft over the sea before baling out.

There was a certain helpless feeling when the depth charges went off that I didn't experience when flying my plane against AA.

His two crew members, Radioman Second Class John Delaney, and substitute gunner Lieutenant Junior Grade William White were killed - one of them parachuted out but the parachute failed to open, the other went down with the plane.