2 September 1944 – Future President George H.W. Bush is shot down off the island of Chichi Jima (near Iwo Jima). He was rescued by the USS Finback (SS 230) which was stationed in the area just for that purpose. It rescued five aviators, the most dramatic was that of Pilot Beckham who clung to the periscope of the partially submerged boat for 5 mile as it traveled out of artillery range of Chichi Jima’s Batteries. Bush spent over a month on the boat before its return to base. During the war 523 aviators were rescued by submarines.
© Gregg Smith
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