America’s Top Ace Richard Bong
Richard “Dick” Bong enlisted as a flying cadet near Wausau, Wisconsin, on May 29, 1941, following his schooling in his hometown. He completed his aviation training at Luke Field, Arizona, and Tulare and Gardner Fields, California. On January 9, 1942, he received his commission and wings. Until May, when he left Luke for combat training in P38s at Hamilton Field, California, he served as an instructor for other pilots.
According to the USAF Historical Support Division, he went to the Pacific as a fighter pilot with the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group in Australia. Major Bong was transferred to the 35th Group’s 39th Squadron in November 1942, where he shot down five Japanese fighter aircraft before joining the 9th Squadron again in January 1943. He flew with the 9th until November, being promoted to first lieutenant in April and to captain in August.
Richard Bong continues to fly combat missions in P-38s
On Nov. 11, 1943, he was given 60 days’ leave and reassigned to Headquarters V Fighter Command, New Guinea, as assistant operations officer in charge of replacement airplanes. In this assignment, Major Bong continued to fly combat missions in P-38s and increased his enemy aircraft kills to 28. In April 1944, he was promoted to major and sent home to instruct others in the art of aerial superiority, with the assignment to Foster Field, Texas.
In September 1944, he returned to the Pacific with the Fifth Fighter Command as a gunnery training officer. Though not required to perform further combat flying, he voluntarily put in 30 more combat missions over Borneo and the Philippine Islands, destroying 12 more planes to bring his total to 40. Still today, Major Bong is the top American ace of all wars, with 40 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat.
Nailing a crocodile with his P-38 20mm
However, Bong not only shot down enemy aircraft, but he almost got credit for nailing a crocodile with his 20mm.
Pete Feigal, a former Pro Military Artist, explains on Quora. ‘Dick didn’t consider himself a very good shot—the most important skill needed to shoot down an enemy aircraft—so he would fly in nice and cozy before pulling the trigger.
‘Bong’s strategy of close combat served him particularly well during a rescue mission in Papua New Guinea. Three fellow pilots were crossing a lake in a small boat to rescue another pilot who had been missing in the jungle. While flying overhead cover, Bong noticed a crocodile following the boat closely in the water. Charged with protecting his comrades, Bong dove very low and glided right over the water. With a precise burst of 20mm cannon fire, Bong blasted the croc. Newspapers reported on the incredible tale, though the crocodile was erroneously called a gator. Some joked about painting a crocodile on the side of “Marge!”’
Photo by U.S. Air Force