Flight of the Avenger: George Bush at War [Hardcover]

Joe Hyams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1991

An account of Bush's life from 1941 to 1944 describes his experiences as a fighter bomber over the Pacific and his courtship with wife Barbara. Reprint. NYT. PW.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hyams ( Zen in the Martial Arts ) recounts Bush's experiences as a WW II Navy pilot and provides the first detailed account of his heroism on September 2, 1944, when he carried out a dive-bombing mission over Chichi Jima Island after his Grumman Avenger was set afire by anti-aircraft shells. This makes for absorbing reading, especially the description of the race to rescue Bush as the tide drew his raft closer to the island. Hyams has uncovered documentary evidence in Japan indicating that Bush would have been tortured and executed on Chichi Jima had he been captured that day. There is another element to the book that is different in character and unexpected: With the cooperation of President Bush and the First Lady, Hyams reconstructs the story of their wartime romance, secret engagement and marriage on January 6, 1945. They met in 1941 when George was 17 and Barbara was 16. "She radiated joy and warmth," recalls the President. Mrs. Bush says of her husband: "He was the most attractive man. . . . I could hardly breathe when he was in the room."
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 178 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt; 1st edition (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0151314691
• ISBN-13: 978-0151314690
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Bush, George

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational book about an inspirational American, October 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Flight Of Avenger (Paperback)

The story of George Bush's WWII service as a naval pilot. During the war Bush was the youngest Navy pilot to earn his wings. Shot down by the Japanese, he was later rescued by an American submarine and spent several weeks on board as it completed its combat patrol. Also talks about his romance with the future Mrs. Bush.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Look Back..., January 10, 2009

By 

D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

The 10 January 2009 commissioning ceremony for the USS George H.W. Bush, the latest and last of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, is an opportunity to look back at the naval career of its namesake, George Bush, once the US Navy's youngest naval aviator, and later, the last commander-in-chief from the World War II generation.

World War II correspondent and veteran writer Joe Hyams' workmanlike 1991 "Flight of the Avenger" was undoubtedly timed to take advantage of Bush's presidency, and its portrait of the young Bush is laudatory. However, Hyams captures a legitimate snapshot of the place and the times. Bush, although from a wealthy family, did volunteer and did graduate from the Navy's aviation training program to fly over 50 combat missions in the Pacific off the escort carrier USS San Jacinto. The account of the wartime missions of his squadron and his ship is detailed and authentic.

The highlight of that career may have been a mission against the Japanese-held island of Chichi Jima on 02 September 1944, in which LT Bush pressed home a bombing run despite heavy anti-aircraft fire. Bush was shot down, but managed to bail out of his burning aircraft and paddle away from the island. He was ultimately rescued at sea by an American submarine. What Hyams adds to this well-known story is the context that no American captured at Chichi Jima survived the war. The Japanese commander of the island executed all prisoners and apparently practiced cannabalism on their remains, for which he was executed after the war.

Hyams interweaves an account of young George Bush's courtship of Barbara Pierce. Their courtship and marriage was only one of many such wartime romances, but it makes for a good story in light of their lasting and obviously successful marriage, and Bush's subsequent career of public service. One son, George Walker Bush, would escort them to the commissioning ceremony as President, while their daughter Doro sponsored the ship commissioning.

"Flight of the Avenger" is recommended as a easy but interesting read on the career of one young naval aviator in the Second World War. If his time in the Navy was like many others of his generation, and perhaps distinguished most by what he did with his life afterward, it doesn't make him any less of a good example of what Tom Brokaw once labeled "the Greatest Generation."

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Saint George, May 2, 2007

By 

Jeff Staddon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight Of Avenger (Paperback)

When I picked up this book I expected to learn a few interesting facts about Bush Sr., but also to get a good overview of the times he lived in. (Most of which was before I was born) There is a bit of that, but mostly it's a poor attempt at canonization.

Over and over again it emphases that George, in spite of his wealthy heritage was humble and kind, all around good guy, great friend of all, etc, etc. I'm sure George was a great guy and quite possibly when the book was written this info needed to be shared. However, for today's student of history reading for interest and entertainment this book just doesn't work.