Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
21
21
0
American Aces & Their Aircraft
Maj. Richard Ira Bong earned the title of "America's Ace of Aces" by shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft with P-38 Lightnings over New Guinea and the Philippines between 27 Dec. 1942 and 17 Dec. 1944. He spent his entire combat tour in the 49th Fighter Grp.'s 9th Fighter Sqdn., except a brief stint at the end as an advanced gunnery instructor for the V Fighter Command.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor at the end of his combat tour for volunteering to continue to lead dangerous combat missions despite his instructor status and shooting down eight enemy planes.
Not wanting to risk losing him in battle after his 40th victory, Fifth Air Force commander Maj. Gen. George Kenney ordered Bong back to the states, where he married and then participated in PR activities such as selling war bonds.
In mid-February 1945, Bong was ordered to the West Coast, where he participated in testing the new P-80 "Shooting Star" jet fighter. On 6 Aug., the same day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Bong was killed when a P-80A he was taking on an acceptance flight lost power after takeoff and crashed in Los Angeles. He bailed out, but was too low for his chute to open. Bong was just 24 at the time of his death.
His awards and decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 15 Air Medals.
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) 1st Lt. Bong downs one of four Japanese fighters he shot down on 26 July 1943 with his first P-38J, "Down Beat," earning him the DSC and promotion to captain. (2) Capt. Dick Bong closes in on a Zero in his 49th FG P-38J "Marge," which he renamed after meeting Margorie Vattendahl while on stateside leave in late 1943. (3) Capt. Dick Bong downs a Ki-61 "Tony" over New Guinea with his 49th FG P-38J "Marge," on 12 April 1944 for his 26th kill. (4) Maj. Dick Bong leads a flight of 49th FG P-38Js over Cape Glouster in May 1944. (5) Maj. Dick Bong and his wingman down a couple of Ki-44s over Luzon with their 49th FG P-38Js. (6) Maj. Dick Bong in his V Ftr. Cmd. P-38L, the last aircraft he flew in combat.
Maj. Richard Ira Bong earned the title of "America's Ace of Aces" by shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft with P-38 Lightnings over New Guinea and the Philippines between 27 Dec. 1942 and 17 Dec. 1944. He spent his entire combat tour in the 49th Fighter Grp.'s 9th Fighter Sqdn., except a brief stint at the end as an advanced gunnery instructor for the V Fighter Command.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor at the end of his combat tour for volunteering to continue to lead dangerous combat missions despite his instructor status and shooting down eight enemy planes.
Not wanting to risk losing him in battle after his 40th victory, Fifth Air Force commander Maj. Gen. George Kenney ordered Bong back to the states, where he married and then participated in PR activities such as selling war bonds.
In mid-February 1945, Bong was ordered to the West Coast, where he participated in testing the new P-80 "Shooting Star" jet fighter. On 6 Aug., the same day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Bong was killed when a P-80A he was taking on an acceptance flight lost power after takeoff and crashed in Los Angeles. He bailed out, but was too low for his chute to open. Bong was just 24 at the time of his death.
His awards and decorations included the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 15 Air Medals.
ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) 1st Lt. Bong downs one of four Japanese fighters he shot down on 26 July 1943 with his first P-38J, "Down Beat," earning him the DSC and promotion to captain. (2) Capt. Dick Bong closes in on a Zero in his 49th FG P-38J "Marge," which he renamed after meeting Margorie Vattendahl while on stateside leave in late 1943. (3) Capt. Dick Bong downs a Ki-61 "Tony" over New Guinea with his 49th FG P-38J "Marge," on 12 April 1944 for his 26th kill. (4) Maj. Dick Bong leads a flight of 49th FG P-38Js over Cape Glouster in May 1944. (5) Maj. Dick Bong and his wingman down a couple of Ki-44s over Luzon with their 49th FG P-38Js. (6) Maj. Dick Bong in his V Ftr. Cmd. P-38L, the last aircraft he flew in combat.
WWII World War Two
Fighter Pilot
Medal of Honor
Edited 2 mo ago
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 6
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 
