June 12th was the 94th birthday of the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
The day he turned 18, Bush joined the Navy. The youngest naval aviator in service when he got his wings, he became a torpedo bomber pilot in the Pacific theater during WWII, where he flew 58 combat missions. At the age of 20, he was one of nine airmen shot down during bombing raids over the island of Chichi Jima, 700 miles south of Tokyo. President Bush managed to scramble onto a life raft and was later rescued by an American submarine, the USS Finback (SS-230), and stayed on board for a month, aiding in the rescue of other pilots. As for the other eight pilots shot down over the island, none survived the Japanese soldiers waiting for them.
For his actions during the World War II, President Bush won the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is currently the oldest living President and Vice President.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Bush as a naval aviator in his aircraft. (Photo: Naval Heritage and History Command)
