James Bush

Who was James Bush?

Lieutenant James Cromwell Bush MC was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

Bush was a clergyman's son. He first served in the local Dorsetshire Regiment. However, once posted to 22 Squadron as a pilot of a two-seater Bristol F.2 Fighter, he began to succeed as an aerial warrior. For his first two victories on 12 August 1917, he teamed with Carleton Clement to set one Albatros D.V aflame and send another down out of control. He went to score four more triumphs, the final one coming on 2 October 1917. Five days later, he and his observer fell under the guns of German ace Hans von Häbler.