The Avenger

Flight 19 Close Encounters

Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was a pilot for the U.S. Navy during WW2. His exploits were chronicled in the very excellent book Flyboys by James Bradley. He was shot down near Chichi Jima in the western Pacific Ocean while flying a Grumman TBF Avenger topedo bomber. The Post Office is closed today (and most other Federal government offices as well, I suppose) in honor of his passing.

Artist's depiction of the five Grumman TBM Avengers from Flight 19

Reading the paper this morning and I notice their little "Today in History" column mentions that Flight 19 disappeared on this day in 1945. Flight 19 was composed of five of the same type of aircraft, the Grumman TBF Avenger. Is this a coincidence, or are mysterious other-worldly powers making themselves felt? Enquiring minds want to know.

Flight 19 disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle and mysteriously reappeared in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind (the video clip at top).

George has been mentioned here before.