Richard Ira Bong
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
BONG, Richard Ira *** Medal of Honor Recipient ***
Richard "Dick" Ira Bong was born on September 24th 1920 to Carl Terre & Dora Maye [Bryce] Bong in Superior, Wisconsin. He he grew up on a farm in Poplar, Wisconsin where he became interested in aircraft at an early age while watching planes fly over the farm carrying mail for President Calvin Coolidge's summer White House in Superior.
On May 29th 1941, he decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. He began his flight training under instructor Captain Barry Goldwater; whom would later become a senator from Arizona. After completing basic training, he was sent to Luke Field near Phoenix to undergo advanced training. Here Bong was first noticed that he was a natural on the P-38.
Via Europe, Bong was sent to the Southwest Pacific area as a passenger aboard a B-24 Liberator from Hawaii via Hickam Field to Australia. Upon arrival Bong was assigned to a newly formed P-38 fighter unit, the 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional). With some experience flying the new twin engine fighter, Bong converted from the P-40 Warhawk and P-39 Airacobra to the P-38 Lightning.
On December 27th 1942 Bong claimed his initial aerial victory, shooting down a Mitsubishi "Zero" and a Nakajima "Oscar" during the Battle of Buna-Gona. For this action, Bong was awarded the Silver Star.
While on leave in November 1943 he met Marjorie Ann [Vattendahl] and began dating. Returning to the Pacific theater, he named his P-38 "Marge" and adorned the nose with her photo.
Major Bong went on to shoot down 38 more enemy fighter planes making him the Ace of Aces in World War II, thus earning the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was awarded the MoH from General Douglas MacArthur on December 8th 1944 for his actions 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.
Bong earned the following merits for his service:
- Congressional Medal of Honor,
- Distinguished Service Cross,
- Silver Star (with one oak leaf cluster),
- Distinguished Flying Cross (with six oak leaf clusters),
- Air Medal (with two silver stars and and two Bronze oak leaf clusters),
- American Defense Service Medal,
- American Campaign Medal,
- Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal (with one Silver star),
- World War II Victory Medal, -and-
- Philippine Liberation Medal (with one bronze star).
After his service, he returned home and married Marge on February 17th 1945.
He died on August 6th 1945 in North Hollywood, California while on a test flight that crashed on takeoff. He was postumously awarded the Purple Heart and has many other honors including an interstate bridge (US2) named in his honor connecting Superior, Wisconsin to Duluth, Minnesota.
He is buried at the Poplar Cemetery in Poplar, Wisconsin.
Bong is one of 6 regional Medal of Honor recipients featured in the book Such Good Men by Alan M. Anderson. Follow the link below for additional information.
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Richard Bong Biography - Bong Center
