George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, served as a naval aviator in the United States Navy during World War II. He flew Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30).
The USS San Jacinto was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Bush flew 58 combat missions from the San Jacinto, including one mission where his plane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to make an emergency landing.
After the war, Bush remained in the Navy and became a naval aviator instructor. He eventually left the Navy in 1955, but his experience on the USS San Jacinto played a significant role in shaping his future career and leadership style.
