Why Bush Stopped Flying in Guard Unclear

[papau]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60817-2004Feb21.html

Why Bush Stopped Flying in Guard Unclear
Having Expressed Desire to Be a Lifetime Pilot, He Gave Up His Wings in 1972 By Josh White Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 22, 2004; Page A08

Texas Air National Guard Lt. George W. Bush was eager to fly fighter jets and settled into the role nicely, filling out the image with a fast sports car, a Houston bachelor pad and a brisk social life. The recent Yale graduate also was a quick study, excelling at high-speed aerial maneuvers and thinking on his feet, fellow pilots said.

But after several years of impressing his instructors at Houston's Ellington Field, Bush suddenly decided to drop it all in 1972. After hundreds of hours at the helm of an F-102 interceptor and declaring that he wanted to make flying a lifetime pursuit, Bush opted out, skipped a required flight medical exam, and left the state.<snip>

Weaver said he questions why Bush did not take his physical, however, because "military aviators take their physicals because that's a basic requirement of being an aviator."<snip>

"I was almost finished with my commitment .(3.5 OF 6 YEARS) . . , and was no longer flying because the F-102 jet I had trained in was being replaced by a different fighter (LIE BY OMMISSION RE NOT TAKING MEDICAL EXAM AND DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN 72 - - ALSO F102 WAS ALWAYS A NOT GOING TO VIETNAM FIGHTER -THAT IS WHY HE CHOOSE THAT TO TRAIN ON)," he wrote. "I had learned to fly jets and acquired a good education; I had not yet settled on a path in life."

The early 1970s was a time when Bush was living what Roome called the "Tom Cruise" time of his life -- driving a fast car, flying fighter jets and dating many women. That lifestyle has raised concerns that perhaps Bush neglected his duty or ran into trouble. Nothing in the records supports that theory, and Roome and Udell said nothing of the sort occurred.

Udell, the flight instructor, said Bush once showed interest in volunteering for a program that would have sent him to Vietnam, called "Palace Alert."<SNIP>

"He said he wanted to participate in volunteering himself," Udell said. "He didn't have enough time and experience. . . . There was no way in hell he could go over there and do it. I told him it was not possible."<snip>