Bong, Richard Ira, Maj

World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from General Douglas MacArthur in December 8, 1944, for his actions as a major in the 49th Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft. His father was a Swedish immigrant and he grew up on a farm. After high school, he attended Superior State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin-Superior) and enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and also took private flying lessons.

In May 1941, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant the following year. Following several stateside assignments, he was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron at Darwin, Australia flying P-40 Warhawk aircraft. He was then temporarily reassigned to fly missions and gain combat experience with the 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter group based in Port Moresby, New Guinea, and was credited with shooting down two Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Buna-Gona. Following his promotion to the rank of 1st lieutenant, on July 26, 1943, he shot down four Japanese aircraft and was soon promoted to the rank of captain. On January 26, 1944, he shot down his 26th and 27th Japanese aircraft, which surpassed the American record of 26 set by Eddie Rickenbacker during World War I, and was promoted to the rank of major.

After returning to the US to promote a bond drive, he returned to New Guinea in September 1944. By the following December, he had increased his enemy aircraft kills to 40 while participating in the Philippine Campaign.

In January 1945, he returned to the US and soon became a test pilot for P-80 Shooting Star jet fighters at Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. On August 6, 1945, while preparing for a test flight, his aircraft crashed on takeoff due to either pilot error or engine malfunction, and he died at the age of 24.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (with one oak leaf cluster), the Distinguished Flying Cross (with six oak leaf clusters), the Air Medal (with two silver stars and two Bronze oak leaf clusters), the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal (with one Silver star), the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal (with one bronze star).

In 1986, he was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and has several commemorative monuments named in his honor around the world.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from October 10, to November 15, 1944. However, assigned to duty as a gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request, engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down eight enemy airplanes during this period.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 90, December 8, 1944
Action Date: October 10 - November 15, 1944
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Major
Regiment: 49th Fighter Group, V Fighter Command
Division: 5th Air Force.

"Major Richard Bong is still the US Army Air Forces/US Air Forces Ace of Aces with 40 Japanese aircraft to his credit. He shot down most of these aircraft flying a Lockheed P-38 Lightning in the South Pacific.

Updated by: TWS Chief - Kim Craft (kim.craft@togetherweserved.com)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2375/richard-ira-bong