The Wingmen Assert the Following:

1. Bush enlisted in the ANG knowing that he and his unit could be sent to Vietnam.
Critics and opponents of George W. Bush have accused him and others of “hiding” in the Air National Guard (ANG) to avoid service in Vietnam. Such an accusation is invalid. If the ANG was a “haven” from the war, tell that to the New Mexico ANG, the Colorado ANG, the Iowa ANG, and the New York ANG. These states sent F-100 fighter-bomber squadrons to fight in Vietnam during the spring of 1968; simultaneously, Bush, then a student at Yale, took the Air Force tests to enlist in his state’s ANG. <READ MORE>

2. Bush did not need, nor did he receive family intervention to gain admission to the ANG. An athlete with a degree from Yale, Bush was physically and intellectually qualified for ANG pilot duty. In enlistment tests he scored 95% in “officer quality,” 50% in “navigator” aptitude and 25% in “pilot” aptitude. ANG Commander Col. Walter B. Staudt also interviewed Bush in person. Bush’s critics have accused him of having “jumped ahead” of 150 applicants on a “waiting list” to join the ANG. Such an accusation is incorrect. In any ANG group, maintenance and administrative personnel made up the bulk of the unit and, as applicants, made up the bulk of any “waiting list.” According to Lt. Col. Campenni, “There may have been 150 or more applicants for all positions in Lt. Bush's unit. For pilot slots, however, the pool was much smaller, probably never more than 10, because of the stringent physical and educational criteria.” In his autobiography, Bush cited another unique requirement of the pilot slots, "There were several openings, I was told, because many people who wanted to go into the Guard were unwilling to spend the almost two years of full-time duty required for pilot training." <READ MORE>

3. Bush fulfilled his drill requirements in Alabama, at Dannelly Air Force Base.
During his 5th year as a Guardsman, from May 1972 - May 1973, Bush was permitted to drill with the ANG in Alabama while he worked on a family friend’s political campaign. There, Bush served with the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Dannelly ANG Base, near Montgomery, Alabama.

It is this period of Bush’s service that his critics accuse him of having gone “AWOL” or of having been a “deserter” from his Alabama duties. At his expense, Bush’s critics have ignored ANG documentation and witnesses that confirm his Alabama service. In doing so, Bush’s critics have created a controversy based on fraud, as they extort known falsehoods to deride Bush’s credibility in this election season. The true story of Bush’s Alabama service is as follows . . . <READ MORE>

4. Bush earned his officer’s commission.
Those unfamiliar with Air Force protocol accuse Bush of receiving “special preference” when he received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant, prior to flight training. Lt. Col. William Campenni, who served with Bush, explained: “The direct commission was the normal procedure for those selected for a pilot slot. Every pilot candidate got one. I did, too. It was contingent upon completion of the yearlong pilot training. If you washed out, you reverted to enlisted status.” While at least 25% of Bush’s Undergraduate Pilot Training class washed-out, or did not complete the program, Bush did so and graduated at the respectable rank of 22 in a class of 53 high achievers.

5. Following basic training, Bush was open to overseas service but was not yet fully trained or permitted to go overseas.
Bush has been accused of trying to avoid Vietnam service when he indicated on a form, “Does not volunteer for overseas service,” prior to reporting to undergraduate pilot training. Col. Bill Campenni explains that such an answer was required: “A non-issue. The form that this canard references is AF Form 125, Application for Extended Active Duty (EAD). It is a required form for every Air Force officer's personnel folder. However, it does not apply to reservists and guardsman unless and until ordered to extended active duty. Most guardsmen, like Lt. Bush and me, were told by personnel clerks to check off the "not volunteer" block because it was meaningless. We had to fill out the form to go to pilot training because that year was EAD (Extended Active Duty). But all the training bases were in the United States, so the election had no effect. In the Guard, you are the property of that unit and that state. You aren't going anywhere except where your unit goes.” Those who served with Bush attest to the fact that he was ready and willing to serve overseas, in fact, he was eager to test his skills as a fighter pilot.


6. George W. Bush served for almost two years on active duty.
Bush was no "weekend warrior" by any means. His first two years of enlistment in the Air National Guard involved full-time, active duty service. This included basic training (6 weeks), USAF flight training (1 year), survival training (2 weeks), combat crew training (6+ months) and local checkout (3 months).

For 53 weeks during his 1968-1969 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Bush served in the same schools and under the same demanding instructors as regular Air Force officers. As a member of Class 70-04, he endured a grueling combination of academics, officer training (leadership), and flight training. He was the only Air National Guard pilot in a class of Air Force high achievers. He earned his pilot rating, his wings, and his commission. Bush next performed additional active duty training to become qualified in the F-102 weapons system, which was at a joint USAF/ANG training school at Ellington AFB, Texas. He also performed additional active duty by sitting runway alert under North American Air Defense (NORAD) command. This service was no different than the fighters flying over our cities since 9/11.


7. George W. Bush volunteered to serve in Vietnam following his flight training.
After his training at Moody AFB and Ellington ANG Base, George W. Bush and his fellow aviator Fred Bradley, sought service in Vietnam. In an article for the National Review, author Jed Babbin wrote that Bush and Bradley, “Both were junior lieutenants without a lot of flying experience. But the inexperience didn't prevent Bush — along with Bradley — from going to their squadron leaders to see if they could get into a program called ‘Palace Alert.’ ‘There were four of us lieutenants at the time, and we were all fairly close. Two of them had more flight time than the president and me, said Bradley.’ All four volunteered for Vietnam (Bradley doesn't remember whether he and Bush actually signed paperwork, but he specifically remembers both Bush and himself trying to get into the Palace Alert Vietnam program.) Bush and Bradley were turned away, and the two more senior pilots went to Vietnam.” <READ MORE>


8. George W. Bush risked his life flying dangerous Cold War Air Defense Alert missions.
In joining the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, Bush flew with an elite unit that had been recognized in 1966 as, “The most combat ready of all Air Guard units,” through an Air Force Outstanding Unit award. Bush’s squadron mate, Lt. Col Campenni described their unit’s role, “In the Cold War, the air defense of the United States was borne primarily by the Air National Guard, by such people as Lt. Bush and me and a lot of others. Six of those with whom I served in those years never made their 30th birthdays because they died in crashes flying air-defense missions. While most of America was sleeping and Mr. Kerry was playing antiwar games with Hanoi Jane Fonda, we were answering 3 a.m. scrambles for who knows what inbound threat over the Canadian sub arctic, the cold North Atlantic, and the shark-filled Gulf of Mexico. We were the pathfinders in showing that the Guard and Reserves could become reliable members of the first team in the total force, so proudly evidenced today in Afghanistan and Iraq.”


9. George W. Bush decided to forgo a flight physical; he did not "miss" one.
George W. Bush did not casually neglect his scheduled May 1972 flight physical. Simply put, with the end of his flying days in sight, he chose not to take it. This flight physical was necessary for him to retain his flying status with the Air National Guard. At that time, Bush’s unit was scheduled to transition to a different, sophisticated aircraft, the McDonnell F-101F Voodoo, which had first arrived at Ellington in May 1971. To fly that aircraft, Bush would have needed to undergo months of additional training. With his National Guard commitment approaching completion, Bush intended to further his education at graduate school. There was little sense for him to learn to fly the F-101F when he would be discharged before putting such training to use. In January 1973, Bush received a routine physical at Dannelly ANG base in Alabama.


10. George W. Bush earned his honorable discharge and the respect of his squadronmates.
George W. Bush never abandoned his commitment to his country and the Texas Air National Guard. While his enlistment agreement specified that he had to earn at least 50 points per year during his 6 years of service, upon his honorable discharge in 1973, Bush had recorded 954 points. His initial two years of service were on a full time basis.

Of his performance, Bush’s leaders gave him high marks. Here’s a sample: His commander wrote that Bush was “a dynamic outstanding young officer” and “a top-notch fighter interceptor pilot.” “Lt. Bush's skills far exceed his contemporaries,” “He is a natural leader whom his contemporaries look to for leadership. Lt. Bush is also a good follower with outstanding disciplinary traits and an impeccable military bearing.” <READ MORE>