Medal of Honor Roll Call: Richard I. Bong

Continuing our focus on ‘Familiar Names’ this month we stay in WW2 for one more – Dick Bong. He was the highest scoring US ace of WW2, while his wife – whose lovely image adorned his plane – was almost as famous as he was!  Check him out here

Advertisement

Make the most of your day! RJL

Maj. Richard I. Bong with his wife Marge.

BONG, RICHARD I. (Air Mission) Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Borneo and Leyte, 10 October to 15 November 1944. Entered service at: Poplar, Wis. Birth: Poplar, Wis. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as 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 8 enemy airplanes during this period.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member