Background

Richard Ira Bong was born September 24, 1920 in Poplar, Wisconsin. Nicknamed "Dick". He was one of nine children, the son of immigrant parents from Swedish. He was employed at a farm before he joined the military.

Wartime History

On May 29, 1941 he enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as an aviation cadet with serial number 16022192. He attended flight school and earned his wings. On January 9, 1942 commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with service number O-433784. During May 1942 assigned to Hamilton Field for training to fly the P-38 Lightning.



During the summer of 1942, Bong was charged with flying a loop over the the Golden Gate Bridge. Bong thought he would have been subjected to a court martial and forced out of the Army, had it not been for the fact that on the very same day, three other pilots flew under the Golden Gate Bridge including John G. O'Neill, John H. Mangas and Mitchell. Later while home on leave in November 1943, he confided to family that he did not fly under the Golden Gate, but was turned-in for buzzing the house of a pilot friend that had just been married.

Wartime History

Bong was then flown overseas as a passenger aboard a B-24 Liberator from the west coast via Hickam Field to Australia. Four P-38 pilots were crammed into the nose: Carl G. Planck, Jr., Norman D. "Sneezy" Hyland, Walter Markey and Richard Ira "Dick" Bong. Upon arrival Bong and Planck were assigned to a newly formed P-38 fighter unit, the 17th Provisional Fighter Squadron. By November 1942 both were transferred to the 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) “The Flying Knights” operating the P-40 Warhawk who were famous from their aerial defense of Darwin during March 1942 until August 1942.

The 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron was one of two units in the 5th Air Force selected for conversion to the P-38 Lightning. Planck and Bong were among a group of new pilots in the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) with experience flying the twin engine fighter. They began helping American fighter pilots convert from the P-40 Warhawk and P-39 Airacobra to the P-38 Lightning.

Bong's Lightnings

During his three combat tours in the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA), Bong flew or was assigned to several P-38 Lightnings:

P-38F 42-12653 piloted by Bong January 8, 1943 ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.

P-38J "Marge" 42-103993 assigned to Bong and named after his wife. On March 22, 1944 crashed piloted by Tom Malone.

P-38J "Marge" 42-104380 during 1945 crashed on a checkout flight over Manlia Bay.

Aerial Victory Claims

Bong was credited with a a total of 40 aerial victories and was the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) highest scoring pilot during World War II. All of his aerial victory claims were made piloting the P-38 Lightning over New Guinea, New Britain and the Philippines. His aerial victory claims include:

Victory Date Location Aircraft Notes on claim 1 12/27/42 Buna Zero First aerial victory claim, IJN A6M Zero from 582 Kokutai 2 12/27/42 Buna Ki-43-I Oscar Second aerial victory claim, JAAF Ki-43-I Oscar from 11th Sentai 3 01/07/43 Lae Oscar Third aerial victory claim, JAAF Ki-43-I Oscar 4 01/07/43 Lae Oscar Fourth aerial victory claim, JAAF Ki-43-I Oscar 5 01/08/43 Lae Oscar Fifth aerial victory claim, became an "ace" 6 03/03/43 Huon Gulf Zero Sixth aerial victory claim. 7 03/11/43 Oro Bay Zero Seventh aerial victory claim. 8 03/11/43 Oro Bay Zero Eighth aerial victory claim. 9 03/29/43 Oro Bay Doris [sic] Ninth aerial victory claim. Heavy bomber "Doris" [sic] promoted 1st Lieutenant. 10 04/14/43 Milne Bay Betty Tenth aerial victory claim. Earned Air Medal. 11 06/12/43 ???? ???? Eleventh aerial victory claim. Promoted to the rank of Captain. 12 06/26/43 ???? ???? Twelfth aerial victory claim. 13 06/26/43 ???? ???? Thirteenth aerial victory claim. 14 06/26/43 ???? ???? Fourteenth aerial victory claim. 15 06/26/43 ???? ???? Fifteenth aerial victory claim. 16 06/28/43 ???? ???? Sixteenth aerial victory claim. 17 10/02/43 ???? ???? Seventeenth aerial victory claim. 18 10/29/43 ???? ???? Eighteenth aerial victory claim. 19 10/29/43 ???? ???? Nineteenth aerial victory claim. 20 11/05/43 ???? ???? Twentieth aerial victory claim. 21 11/05/43 ???? ???? Twenty-first aerial victory claim. 22 02/15/44 ???? ???? Twenty-second aerial victory claim. 23 03/03/44 ???? ???? Twenty-third aerial victory claim. 24 03/03/44 ???? ???? Twenty-fourth aerial victory claim. 25 04/03/44 Hollandia ???? Twenty-fifth aerial victory claim. 26 04/12/44 Hollandia ???? Twenty-sixth aerial victory claim. 27 04/12/44 Hollandia Ki-43 Oscar Twenty-seventh aerial victory claim. Wreckage salvaged by USN divers to confirm 28 04/12/44 Hollandia ???? Twenty-eighth aerial victory claim. Also claimed Ki-43 probable. Promoted to Major. 29 10/10/44 ???? ???? Twenty-ninth aerial victory claim. 30 10/10/44 ???? ???? Thirtieth aerial victory claim. 31 10/27/44 ???? ???? Thirty-first aerial victory claim. 32 10/28/44 ???? ???? Thirty-second aerial victory claim. 33 10/28/44 ???? ???? Thirty-third aerial victory claim. 34 11/10/44 Ormoc Bay Ki-61 Tony Thirty-fourth aerial victory claim. 35 11/11/44 ???? ???? Thirty-fifth aerial victory claim. 36 11/11/44 ???? ???? Thirty-sixth aerial victory claim. 37 12/07/44 ???? ???? Thirty-seventh aerial victory claim. 38 12/07/44 ???? ???? Thirty-eighth aerial victory claim. 39 12/15/44 ???? ???? Thirty-ninth aerial victory claim. 40 12/17/44 ???? ???? Fortieth aerial victory claim. Final victory claim of World War II.

On December 27, 1942 Planck, Bong with ten 39th Squadron pilots took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby on a mission over Buna. Also flying that day were P-40 Warhawk pilots from the 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons. The P-38 and P-40 pilots engaged in a dog fight with Japanese aircraft including D3A Vals and A6M Zeros from the 582 Kokutai and Ki-43 Oscars from the 11th Sentai. This mission was the first major P-38 Lightning combat in New Guinea. Bong claimed his first two victories, claiming a Zero (aerial victory claim no. 1) and an Oscar (aerial victory claim no. 2) and earned the Silver Star (at this stage of the war, the 5th Air Force was awarding the Silver Star for two aerial victories claimed on the same mission).

On January 7, 1943 Bong and Planck took off from 14 Mile Drome with six other P-38s on a combat air patrol (CAP) over Lae led by Captain Thomas Lynch. They engaged Japanese fighters defending the unloading of a convoy from Rabaul. During the air combat, he claimed two Oscars over the Huon Gulf (aerial victory claim no. 3 and aerial victory claim no. 4).

On January 8, 1943 Bong took off from 14 Mile Drome piloting P-38F 42-12653 on a mission over Lae. Over the target, he claimed his fifth aerial victory making him an ace.

On March 3, 1943 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea Bong claimed an A6M Zero, his sixth confirmed aerial victory.

On March 6, 1943 the 9th Fighter Squadron and 49th Fighter Group Headquarters moved from 14 Mile Drome to their new base at Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4) and camped nearby. The area was quickly developed from kunai grass into a major U. S. Army base area. Initially, the area lacked any facilities and tractors carrying fuel drums were used to refuel the squadron's Lightnings. This new base allowed aircraft to operate from the north coast of New Guinea. A month later, rest of the 49th Fighter Group including the 7th Fighter Squadron and 8th Fighter Squadron moved from Port Moresby to Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4).

On March 11, 1943 Bong took off piloting P-38 Lightning Squadron Number 80 from Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4) as part of "Green Flight" of the 9th Fighter Squadron led by Lt. Fowler with Carl Planck as his wingman with Hanning and Overson. After climbing to 26,000', they were vectored to intercept twenty-four G4M1 Betty bombers escorted by A6M Zeros flying at 15,000' east of Oro Bay. A formation of Woods, Mankin and Bong in close echelon formation attacked a Betty bomber. Bong fired at an inverted Zero in a dive and pulled out at 475 mph above sea level. After pulling up and reversing course, he made a head on pass at an A6M Zero with a centerline drop tank and fired a long burst at it causing it to erupt in flames. Then fired on another A6M Zero with a centerline drop tank with a short burst, followed by an attack on seven other Zeros head on with a 20 degree deflection shot at the nearest plane and accelerated away. As he departed the area, one of the Zeros fired on his P-38 from the left quarter and hit his plane, causing a coolant leak on the left engine. Returning from the mission, he landed at Horanda Drome with a single engine. Bong was credited for two victories for this mission, his seventh and eight victory claims.

On March 29, 1943 Bong claimed another aerial victory, a "Doris", his ninth aerial victory claim. Afterwards, he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

On April 14, 1943 Bong took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) leading "Green Flight" on a mission to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid sighted over Goodenough Island. After take off two from Bong's element: 2nd Milliff and 2nd Lt. Nutter experience engine trouble and aborted the mission leaving only Bong and Planck to proceed together but Planck's P-38 had its own problems with a non-functioning generator causing a loss of power. Nevertheless, he formed up on Bong's wing and climbed to 25,000' to serve as high cover. Unable to find the enemy, the P-38s were vectored to Milne Bay and intercepted a formation of three waves of G4M1 Betty bombers and attacked from the rear. Planck's starboard supercharger emitted smoke and flames and aborted the mission. Bong fired on G4M1 Betty left flank wingman and opened fire with all his guns hitting the cockpit and left engine and caused it to pull out of formation into an overcast when it was attacked by other fighters before crashing into Milne Bay. Afterwards, Bong was intercepted by A6M Zeros and hit by a 20mm cannon shell in his elevator. The damage prevented him from attacking more of the bombers. Bong was awarded his tenth aerial victory for the Betty and earned the Air Medal.

On June 5, 1943 Bong took off on a two hour patrol mission to observe a rescue party aiding 2nd Lt. Paul Yeager who bailed out of P-38G Lightning 43-2269 near Big Embi Lake on June 2, 1943. Observing a large crocodile in their path, Bong made a firing pass using his 20mm cannon to destroy the animal. His 'croc kill' was written up in Australian newspapers.

On June 12, 1943 Bong claimed an aerial victory, his eleventh confirmed kill. Afterwards promoted to the rank of Captain.

On July 26, 1943 Bong took off on a mission and was credited with four enemy aircraft, his twelve, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth aerial victory credits.

On July 28, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) on a mission to escort B-25s on a mission against Cape Gloucester. Over the north coast of New Britain off Cape Raoult at 8:15am, the P-38s spotted twelve to eighteen Ki-43 Oscars and the P-38s released their drop tanks and attacked. During the combat, two Oscars attacked Bong until Captain Watkins came to his aid. Afterwards, Bong made a head on pass against another Oscar and claimed it as shot down, his sixteenth aerial victory. Reference: Combat Report Captain Watkins July 28, 1943, 49th Fighter Group Aces of the Pacific inside cover).

On October 2, 1943 Bong claimed an aerial victory, his seventeenth aerial victory credit.

On October 29, 1943 Bong claimed two aerial victory credits his eighteenth and nineteenth aerial victory credits.

On November 5, 1943 Bong took off from Kiriwinia Airfield as flight leader of "Red Flight" on an mission to escort B-24 Liberators over Rabaul. Over the target, Bong claimed two victories, his twenty and twenty-first aerial victories. His wingman, P-38E "Sooner" 42-12655 piloted by 2nd Lt. George C. Haniotis went Missing In Action (MIA).

On November 7, 1943 Bong took off from Kiriwinia Airfield on an mission to escort B-24 Liberators over Rabaul.

On December 4, 1943 Bong departed the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and was flown back across the Pacific to the United States two days later. He returned home and in late December 1943 visited upstate New York to visit his friend and fellow 9th Fighter Squadron pilot John G. O'Neill and his family. On December 21, 1943 he returned to Ithaca Airport to visit the Ithaca Flying Service where he learned to fly in 1940. Fellow pilot and friend Richard Ira "Dick" Bong accompanied him and the pair went on a War Bond tour in the United States.

Returning to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA), Bong began his second tour of duty and was assigned to 5th Fighter Command (V FTR) and continued to fly combat missions over New Guinea.

Assigned P-38J 42-103993 that he nicknamed it "Marge" in honor of his wife. Later, this aircraft was transfered to the 421st Night Fighter Squadron. Another aircraft, P-38J 42-104380 was assigned to him and also nicknamed "Marge" and operated from Nadzab Airfield.

On February 15, 1944 Bong claimed an aerial victory, his twenty-second aerial victory.

On March 3, 1944 Bong claimed two aerial victories, his twenty-third and twenty-fourth aerial victories.

On March 8, 1944 Bong took off from Nadzab Airfield with P-38J 42-103987 piloted by Lt. Col Thomas J. Lynch on a fighter sweep over Aitape. Over the target, Bong witness him bail out at low altitude and hit the jungle, and his aircraft crash into a mangrove swamp.

Promoted to Major by General George Kenney.

On April 3, 1944 Bong claimed an aerial victory, his twenty-fifth aerial victory.

On April 12, 1944 Bong claimed three aerial victories, his twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and twenty-eight aerial victories. He also claimed a Ki-43 Oscar as a probable. With these three victory claims, he exceeded the aerial victory claims of Eddie Rickenbacker who claimed 26 aerial victories in World War I and became America's highest scoring ace pilot to date.

Bong was sent home for leave in the United States and to meet General Arnold.

Third Tour of Duty

Bong returned to the South West Pacific for a third tour of duty in the Philippines.

On October 10, 1944 claimed two aerial victories, his twenty-nine and thirty victories.

On October 27, 1944 claimed an aerial victory, his thirty-first aerial victory.

On October 28, 1944 claimed two victories, his thirty-second and thirty-third victories.

On November 10, 1944 claimed a victory, his thirty-fourth victory.

On November 11, 1944 claimed two victories, his thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth victories.

Medal of Honor

On December 12, 1944 at Tacloban Airfield on Leyte Bong had the Medal of Honor bestowed on him by General Douglas MacArthur. During the presentation, he tossed away his written remarks and said, "Major Richard Ira Bong, who has ruled the air from New Guinea to the Philippines, I now induct you into the society of the bravest of the brave, the wearers of the Congressional Medal of Honor of the United States."