Richard Ira Bong who was destined to became America’s ‘Ace of Aces’ of World War 2 was born in 1920, the son of a Swedish immigrant father and Anglo-Scots mother. His early years were spent on the family farm at Poplar Wisconsin. In essence he was the typical American youngster, working on the family farm and gaining high grades at school. He was also a keen sportsman, playing on the school’s baseball, basketball and hockey teams. Fishing and hunting were abiding interests for the teenager at which he became proficient with a hunting rifle. Like many of his contemporaries Bong developed an early interest in aviation and during his secondary education at Superior State Teachers College in 1938 he enrolled in the civilian pilot training program and also took flying lessons. In early 1941 with America yet uncommitted to the European conflict Bong enlisted in the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program.

Training

Bong’s primary training was conducted at Rankin Aeronautical Academy in California in June 1941, followed by basic training at Gardner Field, California. From there he was sent to Luke Field Arizona for advanced training in single-engine (fighter) aircraft. His machine was the rugged AT-6 Texan (or Harvard in RAF service) which launched the bulk of trainee Allied pilots on their chosen career. Bong proved to be a natural pilot, obviously suited to fly fighters and in January 1942, just after Pearl Harbour he gained his Army Air Corps commission and those coveted pilot’s wings. But instead of an anticipated career as a fighter pilot Bong was retained as a gunnery instructor.

Operational

This tenure lasted several months when his opportunity for action was presented by the introduction of the Lockheed P38 into Air Corps service. Bong quickly adapted to the challenge of the somewhat-intimidating twin-engine Lockheed, however his low-flying escapades around San Francisco bay soon attracted the attention of General George Kenney, head of the Fifth Air Force. No doubt the budding ace would have incurred the general’s wrath for his undisciplined aerobatics but significantly Bong was one of the pilots selected to join the 9th Fighter Squadron. He was shipped to Australia pending the delivery of the unit’s P38s, meantime Bong spent time with the 35th Fighter Group operating out of Port Moresby New Guinea. During his tenure with the 35th he opened his account with the destruction of two Japanese fighters, a Zero and an Oscar.