What did they do - Actors & Presidents in WW 2

[Hanno Spoelstra]

George Bush, later the 41st President of the United States, joined the Navy in 1942 and became the youngest naval aviator ever in June, 1943. He flew Grumman TBF Avengers with VT-51, from USS San Jacinto. On September 2, 1944 he was shot down over Chichi Jima. While Bush parachuted safely and was rescued, neither of his crewmen survived. Bush earned a DFC for delivering his bombload after his TBF had been hit.

Also see Presidents Who Served in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Historical Center web site.