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Jan 16, 2024

A Little Presidential

The wooden frame highlighting then Cadet George Bush hangs outside of

The wooden frame highlighting then Cadet George Bush hangs outside of the command suite of the 934th Airlift Wing front office overlooking the wing's flagpole. (Photo by Master Sgt. Trevor Saylor).

Unknown to many, within the waiting area outside of the command suite of the 934th Airlift Wing front office, hangs a wooden frame that has aged over the years and is often overlooked.

Within this quaint wooden frame are perfectly placed photos and excerpts, the likes of which can be missed unless a passerby happens to pause with intrigue and read through the contents. Atop the frame reads "George Bush trains at Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minn."

This is a scanned image of Cadet George Bush in his winter flight gear during his time at Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minn.

Before Air Force Reserve Command had units at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in 1948, U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet (AVCAD) V-5 George Bush roamed the installation which was then called U.S. Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minn. from November 1942 until February 1943.

One excerpt within the frame pulled from the NAS Minneapolis, Minn. "Penguinews" of 1942-1943 jokingly highlights some of the extracurricular activities then cadet George Bush participated in: "Arthur and Bush [George H. W.] have set up their own private doughnut mass in one of the more inhabitable nooks of the ready-room." After all, who doesn't like doughnuts!

This is an excerpt from the Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minn. "Penguinews" of 1942-1943 which jokingly highlights some of the extracurricular activities then Cadet George Bush participated in.

This is a scanned image of the Stearman N2S-3 Bu. No. 5369 that was flown by Cadet George Bush on two flights on Jan. 12, 1943 at Naval Air Station Minneapolis, Minn. This aircraft is now on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla.

For those who find themselves fortunate enough to visit the halls of the 934 AW headquarters building, stop by the second floor and take a look at this historical highlight.

[1] https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/presidents/georgehwbush