Richard Bong

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Richard Bong : biography

September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945

On September 10, 1942, Lt. Bong was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (aka "Flying Knights"), 49th Fighter Group, based at Darwin, Australia. While the squadron waited for delivery of the scarce Lockheed P-38s, Bong and other 9th FS pilots flew missions with the 39th FS, 35th Fighter Group, based in Port Moresby, New Guinea, to gain combat experience. On December 27, 1942, Bong claimed his initial aerial victory, shooting down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and an Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" over Buna (during the Battle of Buna-Gona). For this action Bong was awarded the Silver Star.

In March 1943 Bong returned to the 49th FG, now at Schwimmer Field near Port Moresby, New Guinea. On July 26, 1943, Bong shot down four Japanese fighters over Lae, an accomplishment that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. While on leave to the United States in November and December 1943, Bong met Marge Vattendahl at a Superior State Teachers’ College Homecoming event and began dating her. After returning to the Southwest Pacific in January 1944, he named his P-38 "Marge" and adorned the nose with her photo.Dick Bong America’s Ace of Aces by Gen. George C. Kenney. By April 1944, Captain Bong had shot down 27 Japanese aircraft, surpassing Eddie Rickenbacker’s American record of 26 credited victories in World War I.

After another leave in the U.S. in May 1944, Major Bong returned to New Guinea in September. Though assigned to the V Fighter Command staff and not required to fly combat missions, Bong continued flying from Tacloban, Leyte, during the Philippines campaign, increasing his official air-to-air victory total to 40 by December. Upon the recommendation of Far East Air Force commander General George Kenney, Bong received the Medal of Honor from General Douglas MacArthur in a special ceremony in December 1944.

Bong’s Medal of Honor citation states that he flew combat missions despite his status as an "instructor", which was one of his duties as standardization officer for V Fighter Command. His rank of major would have qualified him for a squadron command, but he always flew as a flight (four-plane) or element (two-plane) leader.

In January 1945, General Kenney sent America’s ace of aces home for good. Bong married Marge and participated in numerous PR activities, such as promoting the sale of war bonds.

Bong considered his gunnery accuracy to be poor, so he compensated by getting as close to his targets as possible to make sure he hit them. In some cases he flew through the debris of exploding enemy aircraft, and on one occasion actually collided with his target, which he claimed as a "probable" victory.

Victory credits

url=http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/avc.asp |title=Aerial Victory Credits|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|pages=(search on Name "begins with" "Bong", exclude those of BONGARTZ THEODORE R)|accessdate=2012-06-06}} Kills Location/Comment
December 27, 1942 2 over Buna
January 7, 1943 2 Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscars" over Lae
January 8, 1 over Lae Harbor, ace status
March 3, 1 Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" during Battle of the Bismarck Sea
March 11, 2 "Zeroes"
March 29, 1 heavy bomber; promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
April 14, 1 bomber, over Milne Bay. Awarded Air Medal.
June 12, 1 "Zero", over Bena Bena
July 26, 4 fighters, on escort over Lae; awarded DSC
July 28, 1 "Oscar", on escort over New Britain.
September 6, 0 claimed two bombers, not confirmed; crash-landed at Mailinan airstrip
October 2, 1 Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah", over Gasmata
October 29, 2 "Zeros", over Japanese airfield at Rabaul
November 5, 2 "Zeros", over enemy airfield at Rabaul
December 1943-January 1944: On leave in Wisconsin
February 1944: assigned to Fifth Air Force Fighter Command HQ, but allowed to "free-lance".
February 15, 1 Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony" off Cape Hoskins, New Britain
February 28, 0 destroyed a Japanese transport plane on the runway at Wewak, New Guinea
March 3, 2 Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" bombers, over Tadji, New Guinea
April 3, 1 fighter over Hollandia, 25th credit
April 12, 3 surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker’s U.S. record of 26 kills
May–July 1944: on leave in U.S., made publicity tours
October 10, 2 Nakajima J1N "Irving" and "Oscar"
October 27, 1 "Oscar"
October 28, 2 "Oscars" off Leyte
November 10, 1 "Oscar" over Ormoc Bay
November 11, 2 Recommended for Medal of Honor.
December 7, 2 "Sally" and Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo", covering U.S. landings at Ormoc
December 15, 1 "Oscar"
December 17, 1 "Oscar" over Mindoro.