Bush's fly Gabriele

Monday, November 22, 2004
Associated Press

HOUSTON - A private jet en route to Houston to pick up former President Bush clipped a light pole and crashed as it approached Hobby Airport in thick fog, killing all three people aboard. The Gulfstream jet, coming into Houston, went down about 6:15 a.m. in an undeveloped area 1.5 miles south of the airport, officials said. The former president had been scheduled to travel to Ecuador for a conference.

{}{} When this tragic report came to my attention today, it brought to mind that two years ago, my son Fred, who flies corporate Gulfstreams had occasion to fly former President Bush and his wife Barbara from Washington to New York City. It will be recalled that the elder Bush was a former Naval pilot, as was my son. They had experiences to share during that flight. For several years Fred commanded a Navy P-3 on reconnaisance flights over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean. On a number of those flights, the current Junior Senator from Delaware, Tom Carper, was his TACO (Tactical Coordinator).

{} Addendum: My son believes that air transportation for all former US Presidents should be a perquisite provided by the US Air Force and that official Government planes should be made available for their use.