Richard Bong
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Richard "Dick" Ira Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC), he is the United States' all time "Ace of Aces", having shot down 40 enemy aircraft during World War II.
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Biography
Bong grew up on a farm near Poplar, Wisconsin. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was flying combat missions in the Pacific theater by late 1942, getting his first "kills" in late December. By April of 1943, he had shot down 27 aircraft, surpassing Eddie Rickenbacker's American record of 26 kills during World War I. His 40th and last victory was in late 1944. All of Bong's victories were while he was flying a P-38 named "Marge" after his wife.
On New Year's Eve, 1944, General Kenney had Bong sent home for good. Bong participated in numerous PR activities, such as promoting the sale of war bonds. He then became a test pilot for jet fighters. On August 6, 1945, the same day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Bong was killed in a plane crash when his P-80 Shooting Star malfunctioned shortly after takeoff.
Among his decorations were the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (with 1 OLC — Oak Leaf Cluster), the Distinguished Flying Cross (with 6 OLC's), the Air Medal (with 14 OLC's), and many other American and foreign medals.
WWII Historical Center
On September 24, 2002, which would have been Dick Bong's 82nd birthday, the Richard I. Bong WWII Heritage Center opened to the public in Superior, Wisconsin. The converted aircraft hangar contains a museum, a film screening room, and his fully restored P-38 Lightning. The work on the aircraft, begun in 1994 and coordinated by volunteers from the Duluth, Minnesota Air National Guard, required more than 16,000 hours of labor.
Honors
Namesake of Bong Recreational Area in Southern Wisconsin, and the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge in the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin.
Full List of Kills
| Date | Kills | Location/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| December 27, 1942 | 2 | over Buna |
| January 7, 1943 | 2 | Oscars over Lae |
| January 8 | 1 | over Lae Harbor, made 'ace' |
| February 3 | back with 9th FS, at Schwimmer | |
| March 3 | 1 | Zero during Battle of the Bismarck Sea |
| March 11 | 2 | Zeroes |
| March 29 | 1 | Betty? bomber; promoted to 1st Lt. |
| April 14 | 1 | bomber, defending against Japanese attack on Milne Bay. 'Double Ace'. 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 B-25 escort over New Britain. Bong's plane damaged. |
| August 24 | promoted to Captain, R&R in Australia | |
| September 6 | 0 | claimed two bombers, but wins were not confirmed; crash-landed at Mailinan airstrip |
| October 2 | 1 | Dinah, while leading Green Flight over Gasmata |
| October 29 | 2 | Zeros, over enemy airfield at Rabaul |
| November 5 | 2 | Zeros, over enemy airfield at Rabaul; total of 21 kills |
| Dec. 1943 - Jan. 1944 - On leave at home in Wisconsin, met Marge Vattendahl | ||
| Feb. 1944 - assigned to V Fighter Command HQ, allowed to 'free-lance' | ||
| February 15 | 1 | Tony off Cape Hoskins, New Britain, first vistory in 'Marge' |
| February 28 | 0 | destroyed a Japanese transport full of officers on the runway at Wewak |
| March 3 | 2 | Sally bombers, over Tadji, New Guinea |
| March 8 | Friend & mentorTom Lynch killed | |
| April 3 | 1 | fighter over Hollandia, 25th win |
| April 12 | 3 | surpassed Rickenbacker's WWI record of 26 |
| May-July, 1944 - On leave in U.S., made publicity tours | ||
| October 27 | 1 | The 9th FS had set up at Tacloban, in support of the Leyte landings. Bong successfully lobbied to get back in action for this crucial phase.
During this time, the other high-scoring P-38 ace, Thomas McGuire began to approach Bong's combat record. |
| October 28 | 2 | Oscars off Leyte, total of 33 |
| November 10 | 1 | Oscar over Ormoc Bay |
| November 11 | 2 | Bong recommended for Medal of Honor. |
| December 7 | 2 | Sally and Tojo, while covering American landings at Ormoc |
| December 15 | 1 | Oscar |
| December 16? | 1 | Oscar over Mindoro. Total of 40 wins; finally grounded and sent home by General Kenney. He was the most successful U.S. fighter pilot of WW2 |
External links
- Richard Bong Historical Center (http://www.bongheritagecenter.org/)
- AcePilots.com: USAF Bong (http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_bong.html)