I found your archive link about Bush in the F-102, and you bend reality in truly amazing fashion.

In fact, the F-102 was entirely removed from the Pacific Theatre the same month Bush first put his tush in one.

So, not even the Palace program could have put Bush there.

Bush was in what is sometimes called a "champagne" unit with the son of Governor Connoly, son of Senator Bentsen, and a few black people... if they happened to be members of the Dallas Cowboys football franchise.

The plane itself, originally a response to the Soviets unveiling a new bomber at the 1947 Berlin air show, and had no practical mission in Viet Nam. The North Viet Namese happened to lack a bomber force. You cite "wikipedia" for the idea that 14 were lost in Viet Nam. This is incorrect. Only four were. The USAF has no records of any being shot down in air-to-air combat with any MiGs, but there is anecdotal evidence that this happened. You cite the incident unquestioningly, when questions abound whether it ever happened.

The plane was being phased out for _years_ before Bush was in one, and was completely phased out of active units of the Air Force in 1973. It had _only_ been in Keflavik, Iceland, for its last two years. Iceland, you might note, was not a frontline of the cold war.

However, one time, as a result of the 1973 situation in the Middle East, the 111st was briefly put on alert status. Bush was not around for that.

Edjumacate yourself, ya bum.

(by the way, I joined the US Marine Corps once, even if I never saw combat, or anything like dangerous duty, but then again, the President's name was Clinton).

I assume you are referring to this post.

As I stated there, I was merely copying an article from aerospaceweb. If you don't like it, complain to them; I'm not posing as an expert on the F-102.

However, the information in the article conforms to other articles and reminiscences I have read elsewhere, so I will assume that it's correct, and that you are talking through your hat.

>I found your archive link about Bush in the F-102, and you bend reality in truly amazing fashion.

I don't get how this relates to the "Mother Cindy" story.

The part I've always been interested in is the last 18 months of Dubya's service. Or more accurately, the lack of service.

He joined the TxANG in 1968 after he graduated Yale, with a 6yr committment. Finished flight school 1969, pilot certified 7/9/70. By all reports was actually doing pretty good...until early 1972. He was scheduled for a flight physical in May 1972, but failed to show up and in fact NEVER completed it. As a result, he was grounded from all flying duties in August 1972, with two years still to go. ANG policy at the time was to transfer flyers who were grounded to Regular AF for the remainder of their time. But nothing happened to Bush.
The 147th Ftr Grp CO, Bobby Hodges, send to his commander an official AF/ANG form listing flyers for "Suspension From Flying Status", dated 9/5/1972, and Dubya's name is on it. This was, in fact, one of the documents the White House released. But no subsequent action was ever taken, and in 1973, with more than 8 months committment remaining, he was granted an Honorable Discharge.
However, having failed to show up for a scheduled annual flight physical (Failure to Report for a Mandatory Formation), he should have been punished. And when it dragged on, it should have led to a court-martial. Why didn't it? Why was he allowed to just stop flying?

No reasonable explanation has ever been put forward to make clear how he could just stop flying.

"The part I've always been interested in is the last 18 months of Dubya's service. Or more accurately, the lack of service."

Yeah right whaddevvuh ... Whycha find a blog or something where that IS the topic?

I seem to recall that one of the networks had some documentation on that.

CBS, wasn't it? Memos from his commanding officer and everything.

Lurker - nope, I'm talking about the documents BUSH released...for example: http://users.cis.net/coldfeet/grounded.gif
a real honest to goodness U.S. military document which says "6. Verbal orders of the Comdr on 1 Aug 1972 [note the date - two years prior to finishing his committment] suspending 1STLT GEORGE W BUSH [SSN deleted] ANGUS (Not on EAD), TX ANG, Hq 147 Ftr Gp, Ellington AFB, Houston TX, from flying status are confirmed, exigencies of the service having been such as to preclude the publication of competent written orders in advance. Reason for suspension: Failure to accomplish annual medical examination. Off will comply with para 2-10, AFM 35-13. Authority: Para 2-29m, AFM 35-13."

Looks pretty clear, guys....he was ordered in for his annual flight physical. He never showed. He was yanked from flight status and grounded. Per his own released records, he never flew again.

When I was on flying status, failing to show up could mean AT LEAST an Article 15, and failing to ever complete it was a guaranteed Court Martial. But no punishment of any sort ever happened. Why not?

And while copies of this are all over the 'net these days, the original was one of the documents Bush himself released to the press. This is not in dispute. Only the questions about it remain unanswered.