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Richard Ira "Dick" Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) is the United States' highest-
scoring air ace, having shot down at least 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He was a
fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
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.[4] 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.
course of their official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the media is in the public
domain.
Richard Ira "Dick" Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) is the United States' highest-
scoring air ace, having shot down at least 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He was a
fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
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.[4] 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.
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