Pacific Wrecks - Ki-43-II Oscar Richard Bong 26th Victory Claim

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

Ki-43-II Oscar Richard Bong 26th Victory Claim

JAAF
? Hiko Sentai

Aircraft History
Built by Nakajima. Uncodedd serial unknown. Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 1 Fighter Hayabusa / Ki-43-II Oscar manufacture number unknown.

Wartime History
Assigned to an unknown Hiko Sentai (Flying Regiment). No known markings or tail code.

Mission History
On April 12, 1944 reportedly shot down by P-38J "Down Beat" 42-104012 pilot Captain Richard I. Bong and observed to crash into Tanahmerah Bay near Hollandia killing the pilot in the cockpit. This Oscar was claimed by Bong as his 26th aerial victory claim. Afterwards, Bong claimed two more Oscars over Hollandia and surpassed the 26 aerial victory claims of American World War I ace Captain Edward "Eddie" V. Rickenbacker.

Wreckage
During late April 1944, after the American liberation of the Hollandia area, General George C. Kenney reportedly ordered U.S. Navy (USN) salvage divers to locate and recover the plane to confirm Bong's 26th aerial victory claim. When U.S. Navy divers salvaged the plane, they reportedly found body of the pilot inside the cockpit.

Justin Taylan adds:
"It is possible the aircraft salvage was an unrelated wreck, claimed to be the one shot down by Captain Richard I. Bong on April 12, 1944 for public relations purposes. Despite the importance of this aircraft, I've never seen any photographs of the salvage or wreckage to confirm the story."

References
Captain Richard I. Bong Combat Report (CR) April 12, 1944
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Bong, Richard I. pages 25 (PDF page 30) Chronological List: 04/12/44 page 430 (PDF page 435)
Stars & Bars (1995) page 155 (Bong 4/12/44 aerial victory claims)

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

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