World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseRichard Ira Bong was born in Superior, Wisconsin, United States to Swedish immigrants. He and his eight siblings grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin. He studied at the Superior State Teachers College starting in 1938; during that time, he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and took private flying lessons. In 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps Cadet Program. On 9 Jan 1942, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and given his wings. With the 49th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Fighter Group, he flew the P-38 Lightning aircraft. In Jun 1942, for flying very low over a residential home in San Anselmo, California and for flying in a loop around the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California (he had later denied the latter), he was reprimanded by General George Kenney and was grounded, but Kenney recognized Bong's love for flying, despite recklessness. In Jul 1942, he was transferred to the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group destined for the South Pacific. On 10 Sep 1942, he was transferred once again to the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group based in Darwin, Australia; while waiting for the delivery of the squadron's P-38 Lightning aircraft, he and his squadron mates flew aircraft belonging to 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group based in Port Moresby, New Guinea in order to gain combat experience. On 27 Dec 1942, during the Battle of Buna-Gona, he gained his first two kills by downing a Japanese A6M Zero fighter and a Ki-43 Hayabusa fighter; this action also earned him the Silver Star medal. In Mar 1943, with P-38 Lightning fighters delivered, he returned to his squadron, now based at Schwimmer Field near Port Moresby, New Guinea. On 26 Jul, he shot down four Japanese fighters over Lae, New Guinea, which action earned him the Distinguished Service Cross medal. Between Nov and Dec 1943, while on leave, he met Marge Vattendahl in Superior, Wisconsin and began courting her. In Jan 1944, upon returning to the front, he named his fighter "Marge" after his new sweetheart. In Apr 1944, he became the most victorious fighter American pilot when he scored his 27th kill. In Sep 1944, now at the rank of major, he returned to New Guinea on the staff of the V Fighter Command. During the Philippine campaign, he flew fighter missions out of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, and his total kills increased to 40 by Dec 1944. In the same month, recommended by Kenney, Bong was awarded the Medal of Honor, presented by General Douglas MacArthur. His front line duties came to an end in Jan 1945 when he was sent back to the United States. He married Marge Vattendahl, assisted in the promotion of war bonds, and became a test pilot with Lockheed Corporation. On 6 Aug 1945, in North Hollywood, California, he tested a P-80A Shooting Star jet fighter whose primary fuel pump failed during takeoff. He ejected from the aircraft, but the low altitude meant his parachute was not to open before impact. The news of his death shared many front pages with American newspapers with the atomic detonation over Hiroshima, Japan. He was buried in Poplar, Wisconsin.

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