Richard I. Bong
First Tour of Duty

On November 14, 1942 took off from Amberley Field piloting a P-38F Lightning as one of eight on flight to Garbutt Field. The formation was led by Captain Manning with 1st Lt. Donald C. McGee, 1st Lt. William D. Sells plus 2nd Lt Richard I. Bong, 2nd Lt. Norman D. Hyland, 2nd Lt. Walter M. Markey, 2nd Lt. Carl G. Planck an 2nd Lt. Charles S. Gallup. On November 15, 1942 took off from Garbutt Field on a flight to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby then took off again on a short flight to nearby 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer). On arrival, Bong, Planck, Markey and Hyland were assigned for temporary duty with 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) to gain combat experience.

On November 22, 1942 took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) on a patrol to Buna that lasted five hours, his first combat mission. On November 24, 1942 at night with a full moon, Japanese bombers conducted two bombing missions. Bong noted in his Flight Record (Logbook) "experienced first bombing at night." On November 25, 1942 Bong flew another mission for 3 hours 15 minutes.

On November 27, 1942 World War I ace Edward "Eddie" V. Rickenbacker with General George C. Kenney visited 14 Mile Drome and met with fighter pilots including Bong. Rickenbacker discussed his record of 26 aerial victories during World War I. During the conversation, Kenney spontaneously promised to give a case of scotch to first pilot to break Rickenbacker's record and Rickenbacker promised a second case of scotch. Learning of the challenge, General Douglas MacArthur offered a case of champagne.

On December 6, 1942 took off armed with 100 pound bombs on a local flight for dive bombing practice.

On December 14, 1942 after midnight during a Japanese air raid experienced shrapnel from friendly anti-aircraft shells falling all around.

On December 18, 1942 took off on a patrol over Buna.

December 27, 1942
First and second aerial victory claims.

On December 28, 1942 Bong returned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS).

On December 30, 1942 took off on a patrol over Buna.

December 31, 1942
Probable claim.

January 7, 1943
Third and fourth aerial victory claims.

January 8, 1943
Fifth aerial victory and became an ace.

March 3, 1943
Sixth aerial victory and a probable.

On March 6, 1943 the 9th Fighter Squadron moves to Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4).

March 11, 1943
Seventh and eight aerial victory claims. He also claimed a probable Zero and a Betty as damaged.

March 29, 1943
Ninth aerial victory claim.

On April 6, 1943 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

April 14, 1943
Tenth aerial victory claim.

On June 5, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) on a two hour patrol mission to observe a rescue party attempting to reach 2nd Lt. Paul Yeager who bailed out of P-38G Lightning 43-2269 near Big Embi Lake on June 2, 1943. Observing a large crocodile in their path, Bong made a firing pass using his 20mm cannon to destroy the animal. His "croc kill" was written up in Australian newspapers.

On July 10, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) leading "Yellow Flight" with P-38G Lightning 43-2271 pilot 1st Lt. Frederick J. Sibley and P-38 pilot 1st Lt. Walter M. Markey on a mission to escort C-47 transports over the the Salamaua to Mubo area. The weather was strata clouds from 10,000' up to 25,000' with 8/10 coverage and cumulus clouds over the mountains. The trio covered the area until 1:25pm then returned following the coast and flying at low altitude of 50' to 100' over the sea then 20 miles later noticed Sibley was missing. Bong circled in hopes he would catch up and called him over the radio without response. After landing, he reported the loss and later that afternoon flew a search mission with Captain William F. Haney for the missing plane and pilot. Afterwards, Bong made a statement that appeared in Missing Air Crew Report 15081 (MACR 15081) page 8.

June 12, 1943
Eleventh aerial victory claim.

On June 12, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting P-38G Lightning on a flight to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. That same day, took off from 7 Mile Drome as one of twelve P-38s of "Green Flight" on a mission to escort C-47s to Bena Bena. Bong flying as element leader for Sid Wood. Roughly 10 miles southeast of Bena Bena, the P-38s engaged in air combat with Ki-43 Oscars. Bong claimed a Ki-43 Oscar shot down, his eleventh aerial victory claim. He also claimed another Oscar as damaged. During the engagement, his P-38 was hit by gunfire in the right boom but returning landed safely at Horanda Drome.

In early July 1943 Bong was assigned P-38H 42-6???? Squadron Number 79. Although the plane had no nickname or nose art, the left side of the nose below the cockpit was Bong's scoreboard with Japanese rising sun falgs indicating each of his aerial victories.

July 26, 1943
Twelve, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth aerial victories claims.

July 28, 1943
Sixteenth aerial victory claim.

On August 24, 1943 promoted to the rank of Captain.

On September 6, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting P-38H 42-6???? Number 79 leading "Blue Flight" on a patrol over the Morobe area. In the vicinity of Lae and Finschhafen, the P-38s intercept a formation of Japanese fighters and bombers. Lost is P-38G 42-12850 pilot 2nd Lt. James W. Fagan (MIA). During the air combat, Bong's plane was damaged by gunfire by the defensive gunfire from the bombers that damaged his right engine and disengaged from combat and feathered the propeller and requested to make an emergency landing at Marilinan Airfield. While landing, the left engine seized as the plane touched down and without hydraulics and slid sideways, straitened out then ran off the runway and came to a rest in a ditch with the nose down and tail upward.

Afterwards, assigned P-38H Lightning 42-66847 that was given squadron number 79. Although the plane had no nickname or nose art, the left side of the nose below the cockpit was Bong's scoreboard in a black rectangle with Japanese rising sun falgs indicating each of his aerial victories. Assigned to crew chief T/Sgt C. C. Breden and assistant crew chief Cpl W. Finkel.


On September 27, 1943 took off from from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting P-38H-5 on a mission to escort B-25D Mitchells from 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG) over Boram Airfield near Wewak. Over the target, Bong got one shot at a Ki-61 Tony but another pilot shot it down. Returning, Bong landed at Lae Airfield. According to Bong's Flight Logbook, "9/27 / P-38 / Escort B-25 to Boram and Wewak got one shot at Tony and another man shot him down. Landed at Lai [sic Lae] on way back."

October 2, 1943
Seventeenth aerial victory claim.

On October 4, 1943 took off piloting a P-38 on a scramble over Cape Ward Hunt.

On October 6, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting a P-39 on a flight to Port Moresby and back to Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4).

On October 24, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) as one of fourteen P-38s on an escort mission for B-25 Mitchells over Rabaul. Bong was leading "Red Flight", with wingman P-38 Lightning pilot 2nd Lt Woodson W. Woodward, element leader 1st Lt. Norman D. Hyland and element wingman Milliff. Over the target, Bong and Woodward spotted enemy aircraft below, released their drop tanks and intercept the Zeros but failed to score any hits. Afterwards, the Zeros turned into the P-38s and caused "Red Flight" to separate. Only Bong and Milliff reformed to escort the B-25s, while Hyland joined a dogfight north of Tobera Airfield. Bong's wingman, 2nd Lt Woodson W. Woodward never rejoined formation was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Returning, Bong landed at Kiriwina Airfield to refuel then back to Horanda Drome for a total of 5 hours 30 minutes airborne. According to Bong's Flight Logbook, "10/24 / P-38 / Escort B-25 to Rabual shot a 3 Zeros with no luck. Congratulated on good [cover?] job. Landed at Kiriwina on way back."

On October 26, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) on a flight to Kiriwina Airfield then back to Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4).

October 29, 1943
Eighteenth and nineteenth victory claims.

November 5, 1943
Twenty and twenty-first aerial victory claims.

On November 7, 1943 Bong took off from Kiriwinia Airfield leading "Red Flight" with wingman P-38G 43-2199 pilot 2nd Lt. Stanley W. Johnson on a mission to escort B-24 Liberators over Rabaul. The weather was cumulus clouds with 7/10th coverage from 1,000' to well over 30,000' over the target area. Reportedly, over Simpson Harbor, no enemy planes were spotted so the P-38s flew between the peaks of Mother (Mount Kombiu) and South Daughter (Mount Turangunan) volcanoes then made a low pass over the Malaguna Road the main street in Rabaul and claimed to see vehicles pulling off the road to take cover before climbing away with anti-aircraft fire busting behind them. Over Rabaul at 12:30pm roughly 40 Zeros were spotted below flying in scattered groups between 30,000' to 15,000'. The squadron released their drop tanks and intercepted. Bong made several passes against different Zeros with no results. Bong and wingman 2nd Lt. Stanley W. Johnson spotted roughy 8-10 Zeros below them and a P-38. The pair dove down to break them up and lost was P-38G 43-2199 pilot 2nd Lt. Stanley W. Johnson (MIA). Reference: Protect & Avenge (1995) page 214. Ace of Aces The Dick Bong Story page 57-59.

On November 11, 1943 Bong was granted a sixty day leave and flown to Brisbane. At the conclusion of Bong's first tour of duty, he is officially credited with twenty-one aerial victories and one of the top aces of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On December 4, 1943 Bong departs Australia as a passenger on a flight across the Pacific and two days later is back in the United States.

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