5 JUNE 1993, Page 27

Active service

Sir: In the 8 May issue of your journal, you have printed (Stephen Robinson, The peacekeeping that passeth understanding') the statement that George Bush was 'a young navy pilot in the Pacific' in the sec- ond world war. He was actually a bom- bardier, a position calling for courage and skill and needing no false enhancement. In an attempt to make his image more heroic, the Republicans invented and loudly circu- lated the myth that he was a fighter pilot, at their last convention in 1992 (or perhaps before). Mr Bush did not trouble to restore the truth.

Mortimer Chambers

3 Rue Chambiges, 75008 Paris, France