Indeed, most accounts I have seen and heard indicated that as an officer he was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard and a general waste of rations, evidenced by the fact that he was initially denied a regular commission (he was orginally commissioned into the USNR). His problem in getting a regular commission was, or course, exacerbated by his admin being so slack that he missed the application deadline.
Of course, one he became an ace, the Head Shed could exactly say no to their new golden boy-
PR disaster etc.