Who was a better fighter pilot during the Vietnam war: John McCain or George Bush?

Bush never got shot down because the NV Air Defense didn't see him as a serious threat. Maybe they knew he could do much more damage to this country internally than they could do by shooting training craft.

McCain at least had the courage to report for duty.

BTW - George Sr. was shot down in the Pacific Theater and splashed his plane.

McCain was a Strike Pilot, flew actual combat missions, was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese. He survived to tell the tale and moved on with life.

George Bush was barely a pilot, barely passed flight training and for most of his time in the National Guard did not even show up for training. He never flew a combat mission, and had the minimum hours.

You cannot compare the two. McCain served with integrity, pride and honor, and Bush sat back on his rich family and went straight into politics.

The plane that bush was trained and qualified (initially*) to fly was not used it VN, it was so outmoded. The only way he would have flown a combat mission in that particular plane was if the VN invaded whichever bar he was hanging out in at that time. The plane that McCain flew was up to actually flying combat missions, althought McCain might not have been.

* he couldn't be bothered to keep up his qualification as a fighter pilot for the whole length of his "illustrative" career as a national guard patriot - even he knew that it was not a worthwhile effort - but it is unclear if it was because of the junky plane, or the junky pilot.

The current, though, hidden love affair between Bush and McCain is indeed a mystery. In fact, the disgusting diatribes you mentioned were mainly generated by Karl Rove (a.k.a. "Bush's Brain"). During the 2008 McCain campaign, it appears these former enemy camps have joined forces. Rove is now a covert accomplice to helping McCain win in November, and many of Rove's acolytes are playing vital roles in his campaign. It appears either McCain really has forgiven these unfathomable attacks on his character, or winning is indeed the only goal he has-as is evident in his negative ads.

Bush flew CAPs over the southern US. Dangerous, as all fighter planes are, but not combat. He flew a type of plane that was considered too old for use in Vietnam. McCain was flying over North Vietnam. You can't compare the two.

Troll question!

McCain was deployed to a Combat Zone, flew combat missions, shot down, and was a POW for 5 years.

George Bush's National Air Guard Unit was deployed overseas to Vietnam, but his section of the Unit was left in Reserve in the USA.

A Pilot can only serve where he is ordered to serve he does not get to pick and choose his assignments.

So there is nothing to compare.

For SGT. D: Re-read the question nobody mentioned anything about Clinton!!

McCain flew the A-4 Skyhawk which was a strike aircraft, not a fighter.

my vote goes to McCain.

Bush never flew combat missions... a helluva lot different than training exercises.

McCain got shot down not because he was a bad pilot (if you research his bio, you'll find out he had big brass balls)... he got shot down cuz of simple of bad luck...and maybe bad planning on his superiors' behalf.

I hope his big brass balls take us into 2009!!

Depends on how you measure. A pilots job it to fly, if you get shot down, I would say that you did not do a very good job?

correct me if I'm wrong but, wasn't bush in the national guard? guarding America?! like on the coast?! or something. huh?!