Citizens for Honest Fighter Pilots Ask Bush To Get Honest

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Evelyn Pringle


Citizens for Honest Fighter Pilots call on Bush to explain how he could
fail to show up for his annual physical, get suspended as a fighter
pilot, and escape any discipline whatsoever. First of all, let's put one
theory to rest, any suggestion that he could simply decide to quit
flying, with two years left on his commitment, after a quarter of a
million dollars was invested in his training, is absurd. He needs to
clear up this issue once and for all.

When Bush joined the guard, he said he had a goal of "making flying a
lifetime pursuit," and signed a document stating, "I understand that I
may be ordered to active duty for a period not to exceed 24 months for
unsatisfactory participation." Yet, even under the threat of being
placed on active duty, he failed to show up. His 1972 suspension order
states: "Verbal orders of the Comdr on 1 Aug 72 suspending 1STLT George
W. Bush ... from flying status are confirmed ... Reason for Suspension:
Failure to accomplish annual medical examination. Off will comply with
para 2-10, AFM 35-13.

AFM 35-13 specifies that "When a Rated Officer Fails To Accomplish a
Medical Examination Prescribed by AFM ... (1) The local commander ...
will direct an investigation ... (2) will forward the report along with
the command recommendation to USAFMPC/DPMAJD, Randolph AFB TX 78148 for
final determination."

There is no record of the an investigation or a follow-up report. Two
retired generals say it is unheard of for a pilot to miss a flight
physical and not be investigated. "There is no excuse for that. Aviators
just don't miss their flight physicals," said Major General Paul Weaver,
retired director of the Air National Guard. Brigadier General David
McGinnis said that "Failure to take your flight physical is like a
failure to show up for duty. It is an obligation you can't blow off,"
and that regulations would have required an investigation of the matter.

McGinnis says that Bush's superiors may have decided "to get him off the
books, make his father happy, and hope no one would notice." But there
still should have been a report. "If it didn't happen, that shows how
far they were willing to stretch the rules to accommodate" then Lt Bush.

Over time, the Bush camp has given 3 different equally dishonest
stories, about why he was suspended. First it was that he did not take
the physical because his personal physician was in Houston. The Boston
Globe put that lie to rest when it reported that "flight physicals can
be administered only by certified Air Force flight surgeons, and some
were assigned at the time to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, where
Bush was living."

On another date, his people told the London Times that he didn't have to
take an exam, "As he was not flying, there was no reason for him to take
the flight physical exam." Then spokesman, Dan Bartlett, told reporters
that Bush knew that he would be suspended because his paperwork hadn't
caught up with him. "It was just a question of following the
bureaucratic procedure of the time," Bartlett said. "He knew the
suspension would have to take place."

So which is it, (a) his family physician wasn't in Alabama, (b) he
didn't have to take it because he wasn't flying; or (3) the suspension
was caused by a bureaucratic mix-up of paperwork? At a later date, Bush
said he quit flying because the plane he trained on was no longer in
use. That was also a lie. His Unit flew the F-102 until 1974. His Texas
commander, Retired Major Bobby Hodges said, "If he had come back to
Houston, I would have kept him flying the 102 until he got out, but I
don't remember him coming back at all."

To get into pilot training, Bush signed a pledge to fly for 5 years
after he completed his training to ensure that tax dollars would be
well-spent. He grossly violated that pledge and he should be required to
repay taxpayers for the cost of his training.

Evelyn Pringle
Miamisburg, OH


Citizens For Honest Fighter Pilots Call On Bush To Explain
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/08/con04329.html


Quotes and Opinions From Vets Who Served With Bush
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/08/con04333.html