President Joe Biden has been long accused of false stories that have ranged from an invented arrest with Nelson Mandela to a zombie-like train conductor. Some are more serious like lying about influence peddling by his family or constitutional norms. However, as a military history nut, one new story stood out this week. President Biden suggested that his uncle Ambrose “Bozey” Finnegan may have been eaten by cannibals in World War II. What is striking about this story is the specificity of the key facts … and the fact that they are entirely false (other than his uncle dying near New Guinea).
During a stop in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Biden told the story of how Bozey may have been consumed by the natives of New Guinea.
“He was a hell of an athlete, they tell me, when he was a kid. He flew those single-engine planes as reconnaissance over war zones, and he got shot down in New Guinea. They never found the body because there used to be, there were a lot of cannibals, for real, in that part of New Guinea.”
The account appears in the official transcript of Biden’s remarks. He added “They never recovered his body, but the government went back when I went down there and they checked and found some parts of the plane.” It is not clear when that search occurred and where the additional plane parts were found given that it crashed in the ocean. However, it suggests that he later (as senator, Vice President or President) followed up on the story with the military in locating confirming wreckage).
The alternative would be to rely on a witness. Yes, there was a survivor who gave a detailed account, including how Finnegan and the others remained in the plane as it sank.
The more glaring problem is that Bozey was not flying a plane and was not shot down. It was not a single engine plane but a Douglas A-20 Havoc with two Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior 9-cylinder radial engines. He was not the pilot but a passenger on a plane. (Indeed, he was not referenced in the official report as a pilot but a staffer at the Headquarters of the Fifth Air Force). The plane had mechanical problems and crashed near New Guinea. He did not disappear in a sea of cannibals but the actual sea when he and other passengers failed to get out of the wreckage.
“On May 14, 1944, an A-20 havoc (serial number 42-86768), with a crew of three and one passenger, departed Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island, for a courier flight to Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea. For unknown reasons, this plane was forced to ditch in the ocean off the north coast of New Guinea. Both engines failed at low altitude, and the aircraft’s nose hit the water hard. Three men failed to emerge from the sinking wreck and were lost in the crash. One crew member survived and was rescued by a passing barge. An aerial search the next day found no trace of the missing aircraft or the lost crew members.”
That was not the only false claim made by the President in his remarks. It was also surprising to see the President claim that it was after D-Day that all four uncles enlisted. That was June 6, 1944. However, his uncle was shot down in May 1944, which would mean that he was shot down a month before he enlisted. It is more likely that they enlisted like millions of others after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
However, the fake story led me to look into whether there were any accounts of pilots being eaten by cannibals. Surprisingly, there are accounts of Japanese troops engaging in such cannibalism.
One of the documented stories of Japanese cannibalism involved another president. George H.W. Bush was a combat pilot in World War II and survived being shot down over the Pacific during a raid on the island of Chichi Jima in September of 1944. He was not alone. Nine other airmen went down, but only Bush was able to evade capture because he bailed out over the sea. Nevertheless, he only survived because other pilots gave covering fire as he paddled away in a life raft.
The other eight were not so lucky. James Bradley’s book Flyboys: A Story of True Courage details the tragedy that unfolded. They were beaten and tortured and eventually beheaded. Major Sueo Matoba then had their flesh prepared for an officers’ feast and a party in his quarters. Also Captain Shizuo Yoshii hosted a similar feast and both General Yoshio Tachibana and and Rear Admiral Kunizo Mori, the army and navy commanders of the island, reportedly partook in the meals. The four airmen used for the meals were Marve Mershon, Floyd Hall, Jimmy Dye, and Warren Earl Vaughn.
Ironically, there are also stories of native cannibals rescuing downed pilots and, rather than eating them, helping them survive and make it back to their commands.
As is often the case, the White House simply refused to address the false claim and made it sound like reporters were denigrating the service of his uncle by asking about the cannibal story. White House spokesman Andrew Bates declared “President Biden is proud of his uncle’s service in uniform” and emphasized that Finnegan ”lost his life when the military aircraft he was on crashed in the Pacific after taking off near New Guinea.”
Babylon Bee has changed their format from satire to reality. If only it were fake news
Biden Unveils Official Campaign Slogan ‘Death To America’
https://babylonbee.com/news/biden-unveils-official-campaign-slogan-death-to-america/
Anonymous said: “Babylon Bee has changed their format from satire to reality”
Sadly, it wasn’t the Bee that changed…
When I first read about this, I thought it had to be a Babylon Bee “news” article.
Now, I wish it was a Babylon Bee “news” article.
We are staring WWIII in the face, and we got a old man who needs to be in a nursing home, not the WH, as president. Dont be surprised if this does not encourage Iran, Russia, China, et al to act now, before the election.
Of course the Biden admin just spins or ignores the incident.
And of course our leftist trolls will “whataboutTrump!” as a defense.
And that part about those men being eaten, ghastly!
UpstateFarmer said: “Dont be surprised if this does not encourage Iran, Russia, China, et al to act now, before the election.”
That is a concern, but I can see Biden’s incapacity potentially cutting in either direction. Those adversaries, I presume even the least rational of them, Iran, most likely would prefer some ability to predict US response to aggression. I’m not sure they would think that possible with Biden.
If a cannibal ate Joe Biden’s brain, what nourishment would he get?
Edwardmahl,
None.
But with all the drugs they have him jacked up on, the cannibals might get a good buzz.
A cousin of my father (who he grew up with) also served in the Pacific and was on the USS San Francisco (Heavy Cruiser) as a Leut, when she fought it out with with 2 Japanese Battleships off Guadalcanal on 11/13-15/1942. 2 American admirals were lost in that action. Callahan on the San Francisco and Scott on the USS Atlanta. While talking with my father, his cousin only mentioned in passing that after serving on the San Francisco, he switched to submarines because he thought they were safer and then found out after the war that subs had the highest casualty rates of all US Armed forces. I was listening and knew about the San Francisco so I pressed him to talk about it and he kindly did. He never even mentioned that he was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions that nite. It was horrific. 14 inch and 8 inch guns at point blank range. Unimaginable to me.
GEB,
It is unimaginable. The Kamikaze attacks were brutal! My father served in the Solomon Islands, primarily in Guadalcanal. He came after the Marines slugged it out. His accommodation was a tent in the jungle. My aunt was an Army field nurse in the PTO.
There is an excellent book series on the Pacific War by author Ian Toll. Those guys went through hell and were an amazing group of people.
Thanks. I am well familiar with Ian Toll, James Hornfischer, Samuel Eliot Morrison (14 volumes) and others. A lifelong passion. Incredible writers discussing incredible feats by our armed forces.
Biden disparages his uncle’s sacrifice by not bothering to get it right. Did he even read his service record. The 5th Army Air Force was a key to victory in the South Pacific. Skip bombing just about destroyed all Japanese logistics.
Yeah, sure he will debate. “What is your policy on inflation?” “Well, I am going to keep my tires on my Vette full the same way that Pop Pop kept his tires full on his airplane that he flew across the Pacific in 1942…no joke”.
Or……..he might have encountered Corn Pop in the jungle.
I was just watching the clip of the dementia patient that slipped by the nurses and got free.
He is reading from prepared text.
Has Obama installed his functionaries that close to Biden that Obama can push Biden faster to his crash? Hasten the inevitable?
So why did the Bidens get Millions from China, Ukraine, etc?
The rule of law is dead along with a press that seeks the truth
The USA is on a DARK and Dangerous path….being hacked by Democrats and their RINO colleagues. DC gov, Wall Street, big tech…all hate America…that is clear!
The Democrat Party pushes crime, drugs and illegals…no thinking person believes this is a good path.
Apparently Soros and the Democrat and their Globalist brothers insiders seek the destruction of the USA and the West! It is a crime now in many places to notice when a MAN(determined by DNA) “competes” against Women.
We are more like 1930’s European Fascists or Mao’s Cultural Revolution than the America of 1950’s
If Joe Biden claimed he was the Easter Bunny, I could overlook that as long as President Easter Bunny ran the government decently and competently.
He does neither. He’s just an incompetent meat puppet for a corrupt and decadent Deep State.
How can Diogenes overlook such blatant lying (sarc)? But of course I get your point about maybe putting up with this insanity if the guy could run a country.
Diogenes, that about sums it up.
Diogenes
That is the exact sentiment expressed by Bill Barr, yesterday on FOX. He’s voting FOR President Trump. Barr explains Tump is far better for the Nation than Joe and the anti Democracy agenda.
This is the guy who has to hold a cue card when talking to another political leader. Since he has taken office, it costs a family 20,000 more per year for the necessities of life.
Rogue nations and despots are circling like vultures. This is a very dangerous time and it will get worse.
@E.M.
Surely it’s more for families. It’s just my wife and I, and for the two of us our expenses went up $16,000/year. Anyway you slice it, it’s a full, albeit small, additional income just for basics. I can’t even imagine what folks that were already lean are going through.
E.M. and James,
Yet they keep telling us how great things are!
Price of groceries are still up. Gas just went up by $0.30 in three days.
Sounds like Biden’s Uncle was one of the better members of his family. Too bad he was lost, because maybe he would have provided a better role model to his nephew rather than just being a name in a mangled story/lie. His uncle deserved better.
George H W Bush’s tale is remarkable, on the other hand, but he seemed to seldom mention it. He flew in a TBM avenger (Torpedo / bomber) with 2 other crewman who also did not make it out of the plane when he went down. The 2 rear gunners had a very difficult passage to get out of the plane whereas the pilot usually had a much easier path to safety.
We should all do better just simply in respect to those who have been lost in our country’s service.
GEB said: “Too bad he was lost, because maybe he would have provided a better role model to his nephew ”
Nice thought, but, sorry… Other, contemporary, members of the Biden family haven’t exactly distinguished themselves as paragons of human virtue. IMO we’d all be a damned sight better off today if Joe Biden’s entire ancestral line had been wiped out without progeny.
Papua New Guinea may still have cannibals, they actually warn you about it if you go. Stay in town.
Papua New Guinea may still have cannibals,
If you go out and about, its best to dress up like a clown.
Cannibals don’t eat clowns.
Because they taste funny
Anonymous said: “…still have cannibals, they actually warn you about it if you go. ”
Sounds like something a local Chamber of Commerce flunky might make up to titillate the tourists.
Oh no, we went hiking (beautiful). We had armed escorts and scouts. It was more like a military patrol. The country is pretty messed up when you go. Not for everyone. My next trip is to hike parts of Karakorum range – hopefully we don’t shelled in a border spat. No 8000 m peaks.
Good add to the Biden ‘swift boat’ collection, Turley…
Of course, having a relative who died on a sub in the Pacific in WWII, I find this effort to be even more disgusting than one of your normal character assassination push pieces…, but hey, you be you, bruh.
If you really had a (unspecified) relative who was lost in the Pacific in WWII, you would find Biden disgusting for his absurd fabrication, not Turley for pointing it out, bruh. You are as bad a liar as FJB, which no doubt is why you posted anonymously.
Nope. I disrespect Turley because he’s now shown a willingness to rampage through a family war history in order to impugn someone for political reasons…, a truly disgusting act. Add it to being willing to attack through children, which is disgusting enough, but Turley ups the antenna here…
As for my uncle, I’ve literally posted his memorial on this blog before and seen full on a$%holes like yourself attack it. I won’t subject his memory to the sort of anti American b.s. regularly practiced by magats like you….
But if you’d like to actually pay respects to my uncle for doing what he did to make your miserable life worth living, visit the memorial for the USS Herring at ON ETERNAL PATROL. Edward Paul Cunningham. Navigator. He got a Purple Heart.
Nope.
Turley is reporting verbatim the words of the President of the United States
That you infer, something never presented, you are a liar.
Turley never reports verbatim. You’re always an idiot. Let’s just leave it at that.
Your grasp of reality is, of course, warped.
Biden has a long history of concocting lies about his family to score political points. For Turley or anyone else to correct the record is providing a valuable service to truth. If Biden doesn’t want to be criticized for constantly promoting these fantasies about his family, maybe he should try being truthful about his family – or better yet leave his family out of his public comments altogether.
Repeat after me: Turley NEVER corrects the record. He cherry picks and twists minute details from the record to suit his political needs and then he feeds it to you to get you all whipped up.
Seriously? ….”because he’s now shown a willingness to rampage through a family war history in order to impugn someone for political reasons”. Newsflash – your president is the one who brought it up. He lied…..and once again the truth was easily found and reported…/deal with it.
Too busy dealing with the fact an ex president is on trial in NY as we speak. Sorry. My bsd.
25th Amendment Time – but they won’t the people who are controlling enjoy the power and corruption.
The 25th amendment can only be invoked by Harris and a majority of the Cabinet. And supposing he objected it would take two thirds of both houses of congress to remove him, which means it couldn’t happen without Republican cooperation, and I don’t see why the Republicans would ever agree to help the Dems fix their problem.
All the while our nation is being cannibalized for political gain. The Constitution was devoured decades ago, election integrity was next, now it’s our judicial system for desert. Only dry bones are left.
Clarke, congrats to the new master of the metaphor. Great comment!
That is so true. . . . . an so depressing
Anyone who’s ever had to deal with a friend or loved one suffering progressively declining cognitive deficits understands exactly what this story means. Like the description of Biden in the Hur report, it shows that The Wizard of Oz is nothing more than a contrivance designed and operated by the media, his family, and paid handlers and mercenaries. The curtain has been pulled apart and the scam exposed for what it is. We can only hope and pray that the country survives intact for another eight or nine months until reason returns.
Maybe it’s a good thing you I wasn’t invited to the State Dinner for the Japanese Prime Minister.
I wonder what was on the menu,,,,,
Readers, please delete the word ‘you’ from my post. Thank you in advance!
EconIsEasy said: “I wonder what was on the menu”
Maybe it was the former “Prime” Minister. Just ribbing you…
Jonathan, you didn’t post this yourself – there are way too many grammatical errors that are not characteristic of your style. Must have been that dei hire …
The good thing is he is not really running the government. The bad thing is, political operatives are running the Government.
Yep, and Joe’s very convenient for them. If things get bad, they can throw him under the bus and keep doing what they’re doing. Kamala is a perfect replacement for a disposable President.
Diogenes said: “Joe’s very convenient for them. If things get bad, they can throw him under the bus and keep doing what they’re doing.”
Only so long as they are very careful about timing. If they manage to prop Joe up until after November 5, assuming they can engineer or steal him the win, they are golden. If he completely craps out between, say, August and November, imo they have totally f*ck3d themselves. My best guess is that, unlesss the remaining lawfare actions against Trump actually result in an overt disqualification for the office, either legal, or in the eyes of the vast majority of the electorate, they have accomplished the latter, electorally speaking. And, at this time, courtroom success to that degree seems highly unlikely. I am concerned with what they might be able to do to booby-trap Trump’s adminstration before his inaugaration, should he win. Provoke Russia into a nuclear response in Ukraine, thereby literally starting WWIII? Completely ruin the economy beyond any hope of repair in 4 years time? I think they have the power to make either of those things happen, and I don’t have a lot of confidence in their recognition of the value of self-preservation to avoid screwing themselves, as long as they “get Trump” in the process. I’m sure their side has powerful cynics who hope to do just enought damage to ruin Trump’s Presidency, and allow themselves to profit from the mess, but their shock troops could easily get out of hand, with unpredictable results.