Customer Reviews

Flight of the Avenger: George Bush at War

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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.

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."

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.

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.

If you're looking for fictionalized fluff of how "Rubber"--Mr. Eugenist himself's biographers who write deliberately inspired falsehoods to promote the Bush cause; then here's the book for you!

George and his Skull & Bones cronies -- including daddy Prescott, grandpa Walker, the Harriman's, et al. -- fed this self-alleged war hero from the not always so covert Eastern Establishment's-based silver spoon from an early age. GW is no war hero! He illegally entered the War at too young an age. Then, flailed in the cockpit when multiple eyewitnesses saw "Poppy" George Bush bail on two crewmates sending them to their deaths. Or maybe not? With each election he had set up that he won he'd change his bio and rhetoric to suit the constituents.

Fact many times over tells how father Prescott cashed in on the banking he did to supply the Nazi-killers and the only reason he wasn't nabbed for war crimes like one of his associates was due to one of his other cronies getting the post to pick & choose who got prosecuted.

The story goes on but its not to be found in drivel such as Flight of the Avenger, "Plucky Lad" , "The Family" or any authorized bio of this evil family.

Much of the downright evil can be backed up with diligent research, if you care to look it up in reputable media of the times.

One such book that has much respected documentation is Tarpley's unauthorized biography of this flight [as in abandoning his mates] of an avenger.

Registered Republican