Author Topic: World War Trivia (#7) (Read 415 times)

Jester · « **on:** February 21, 2004, 12:43:47 AM »

The former US President George W. Bush Sr. was a Torpedo plane pilot in WW2 during which time he was shot down. What was the name of the submarine that pulled him out of the drink?

Extra points if you can tell me what squadron he flew for at this time.

GOOD LUCK!

Guppy35 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2004, 01:04:46 AM »

Flew with VT51 on the USS San Jacinto and was rescued by the USS Finback

Dan/Slack

Jester · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2004, 09:34:29 AM »

USS Finback and VT-51 it is.

Congrats!

pugg666 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2004, 09:37:56 AM »

all happened while bombing chichi jima

Rafe35 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2004, 09:14:19 PM »

He was only person who survive i believe

Pongo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2004, 09:42:51 PM »

Hard to survive when the pilot bails out first.

Widewing · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2004, 10:24:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pongo
Hard to survive when the pilot bails out first.

Have you read the account of how long Bush stayed with the TBM before he bailed? Read Flyboys by James Brady... Bush did all he could and barely got clear before the fuel tanks detonated.

My regards,

Widewing

Pongo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2004, 10:52:48 PM »

I have heard both versions.

SunTracker · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2004, 03:11:26 AM »

In Bush's interview, he says he stuck with the plane while his crew bailed out. All I know is his entire crew died. Most likely were executed by the Japanese.

SunTracker · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2004, 03:23:47 AM »

Quote

Bush maneuvered the Avenger over the ocean with the hope it would make the journey back to San Jacinto. But the plane began to blaze and clouds of smoke soon enveloped the cockpit. Choking and gasping for air, Bush and one of his aircrewmen wriggled out of the plane and leaped from about 1,500 feet. His other crewman, dead or seriously injured from the blast, went down with the Avenger.

Bush parachuted safely into the water, dangerously close to the shore. Unfortunately, the aircrewman fell helplessly to his death because his parachute failed to open properly.

No one ever knew which one bailed out with Mr. Bush," said Nadeau (Bush's gunner who sat the mission out), now a building contractor in Ramona, Calif. "I would assume it was Delaney, because as the radioman, he would go out first to leave room for the gunner to climb down out of the turret and put his chute on.

"There wasn't room in the turret for the gunner to wear a parachute. As a gunner, my parachute hung on the bulkhead of the plane near Delaney. We set up an escape procedure where he was supposed to hand me my chute and jump, and then I was to follow him. The procedure took a couple of seconds."

Nadeau added that he "didn't know what to think" when he heard the plan was shot down.

"I felt bad that Delaney and Mr. White had died," he said. "I just had the feeling that had I been there, Delaney and I might have both made it out alive -- that is, unless one of us got hit by AA. Delaney and I had practiced our escape procedure constantly. He might have stayed to help White get out of the turret and delayed too long. it's one of those things that never leaves your mind. Why didn't I go that day?"

Jester · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2004, 06:26:10 AM »

Pongo,

Mr. Bush went to war when his country called, flew many missions in combat & was shot down and almost killed while doing his duty.

Whatever your "Politics" or what you think of the guy it is kinda "Bad Taste" to bad mouth someone that did the above.

What did you do in the war Pongo?

pugg666 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2004, 06:29:27 AM »

Saw his interview as well, he seemed to be genuinly crying when he told the story (of course you never can be sure with a politician) I believe him on this one.