Good job admitting you were wrong.
I will speak to some aviators I respect and see what they have to say on the issue. Pugs is, unfortunately, hunting or I'm sure he would have weighed in by now. Your statement that he was derelict means nothing as you don't have the qualifications to make the statement. I will readily admit that I don't have the requisite knowledge at this point to render a decision on the matter.
That said, the man was a combat pilot. That alone is worthy of respect in my mind.
George
I could've respected Bush if he had at least tried to save his two crew members as was his job. But he didn't. He chose to save himself at the expense of his crew members' lives.
In another post in this thread is a synopsis of a previous incident in which Bush effectuated a water landing saving his crew members. So why didn't he attempt the same maneuver again?
Anyone who reads back over this thread can plainly see that your opinion (stated as fact) that Ltjg. Bush was a coward has been completely shot down. Pun intended.
All those quotes from those who were there, knew Bush and what really went down that day. Pun intended.
Preponderance of evidence supported by his crew statements of what happened on his other ditching when Bush did make a successful water landing.
No Bush crewmember, no one else in VT-51squadron except maybe your source has recited any hint of Bush cowardice. Just the opposite.
Only half of the squadron's original 16 pilots survived the war and nobody at the small 40th squadron reunion supported your so-called �facts.�
Your own research leave a lot to be desired.
Your link quote Mierzejewski who was a turret gunner in a leading aircraft who watched one of his friends go down. He blames Bush.
The other part of your quote is from Robert Flood, a former B-17 bombardier told the press. "He violated the primary rule for a captain of a multi-crew aircraft: The pilot never leaves the airplane with anybody in it.�
Pure BS from someone who wasn�t there, but should know that a pilot orders his crew out first by radio.
Bush was not flying a B17 and had no way to sight check his crew after he did ordered them to bail out.
Some eyewitnesses did see one crewmember leave the plane but no chute.
So you lied when you said: �Many of his fellow aviators have said that Bush was actually a coward.�
And when you said: �He might not know the answer, but others in his squadron do know the answer. And so do we.�
You lied when you said your links �confirm.�
And you keep lying about anyone claiming Bush (including Bush) was a hero for getting shot down.
Ltjg. Bush got his DFC for finishing his bomb run on target after his plane was hit.
Then he ordered his crew to bail out as he tried to head back to his carrier until his cockpit filled with smoke. Followed procedure.
You quote sources who was not in that cockpit�not in the arena with the bull�but you sit in the bleachers and pass judgment.
You have to be really stupid to believe anyone can land an aircraft on water or land with a smoke filled cockpit.
That is what parachutes are for.
