The 41st President, George H.K. Bush: Shot Down Over Chichijima

Since President Bush's burial will take place today in College Station, Texas, where his presidential and vice presidential libraries are located (as well as his vice president during his term, Dan Quayle).

From Wikipedia.

GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

While he was president, he was called just George Bush, but after his son was elected, he was referred to as George H.W. Bush, Bush 41, or George Bush Sr..

I am writing about his World War II service in most of my blogs today.

George Bush piloted one of his torpedo squadron's Grumman TBM Avengers when they attacked Japanese installations on Chichijima on September 2, 1944.  His crew included  Radioman 2nd Class John Delaney and Lt. (jg) William White.  His aircraft was hit by flak during the attack, but Bush successfully released bombs and had several hits.

With his engines ablaze, he flew several miles from the island where he and one of the other crewmen bailed out.  The other one's parachute did not open.