Page 58 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

Richard I. “Dick” Bong
Ace of Aces Flying P-38s in World War II By Lew Jennings
Maj. Richard Ira “Dick” Bong, USAAF (Sept. 24, 1920 – Aug. 5, 1945)
Credited with shooting down 40 enemy aircraft in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, Dick Bong was the highest scoring ace of the war. His awards included the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses and 14 Air Medals.
Maj. Richard Ira “Dick” Bong was credited with shooting down 40 enemy aircraft during multiple tours flying Lockheed P-38 Lightnings in the Southeast Pacific, making him the highest scoring ace of World War II. He was also one of the most highly decorated US aviators, having been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses and 14 Air Medals.
Born the first of nine children to Carl and Dora Bong in Superior, Wisconsin, Dick Bong was interested in airplanes at an early age and an avid model builder. While attending college in 1938 he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, took flying lessons and in 1941 enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program, where one of his flight instructors was Captain Barry Goldwater. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his wings on January 19, 1942.
He excelled in training and his first assignment was as a gunnery instructor at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, followed by P-38 Lightning qualification at Hamilton Field in northern California.
While at Hamilton Field, he exhibited his aggressive flying behavior when he flew low-level down Market Street in San Francisco, and then so low over a pilot friend’s house, that he blew the clothes off a neighbor’s clothesline. He would be reprimanded and grounded by 4th Air Force Commanding General George C. Kennedy and miss deployment of his squadron to Europe. When back on flight status, he was assigned to the Southwest Pacific Theatre and the 9th Fighter Squadron. On December 27, 1942, Bong shot down two enemy aircraft in the Battle of Buna-Gona, New Guinea, and was awarded the Silver Star.
In April 1943, Bong was promoted to first lieutenant and on July 26, he shot down four Japanese fighters over Lae, New Guinea for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The following month he was promoted to Captain.
Sent home on leave in late 1943, he met and dated Marjorie Vattendahl. Returning to the southwest Pacific in January 1944, Bong named his P-38 “Marge” and put a picture of her on the nose of the fighter. By April 1944, he had claimed his 26th and 27th enemy aircraft shot down, surpassing Eddie Rickenbacker’s record of 26 in World War I.
General Kenny was the Far East Air Force Commander in 1944 and promoted Bong to Major. He was then sent back to the US to report to General “Hap” Arnold, Commander of US Army Air Forces and began a 15-state tour promoting war bonds and visiting Army Air Force training bases throughout the country. He returned to New Guinea in September as an advanced gunnery instructor.
Major Bong’s assignment was primarily training pilots in advanced gunnery with no requirement to participate in combat patrols, however, at his own insistence, he volunteered for many combat missions and by December 1944 increased his record of air-to-air victories to 40. On General Kenny’s recommendation, he would be awarded the Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur in a special ceremony that December.
The following month, “Ace of Aces” Dick Bong was sent home where he married his sweetheart Marge on February 15, 1945. Assigned as a test pilot of the new Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet in Burbank, California, he would lose his life when his engine failed on takeoff, on August 6, 1945, the same day as the bombing of Hiroshima.
58 / DFCS News Magazine / SUMMER 2020