2nd Lt Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory No. 2
Zero [sic Type 1 Fighter Hayabusa / Ki-43-I Oscar], December 27, 1942
First Tour of Duty

Mission History
On December 27, 1942 2nd Lt Richard I. Bong, attached to the 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby piloting P-38F Lightning 42-12644 as one of ten P-38s led Captain Thomas J. Lynch on a patrol over Buna. Also scrambled were P-40E Warhawks from 7th Fighter Squadron (7th FS) and twelve P-40E Warhawks from 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS).

At 12:00pm over Dobodura, the P-38s and P-40s intercepted a formation of twenty-four Japanese planes including Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) D3A Vals and A6M Zeros from 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) plus Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) Ki-43-I Oscars from 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment). This was the first combat by the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

During air combat that lasted fifteen minutes, Bong claimed his first two aerial victories. At 12:10pm he claimed a Val shot down in flames and a Zero [sic Ki-43-I Oscar]. Afterwards, Bong landed at 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) after 3 hours 35 minutes airborne. His plane had one bullet hole in his left engine.

Claims
Bong was credited with two aerial victories, his first and second victories of his fist tour of duty.

Awards
Bong was awarded the Silver Star, presented on March 27, 1943. At this stage of the Pacific War, the 5th Air Force (5th AF) bestowed the Silver Star on any pilot who claimed two aerial victories on the same mission.

References
Major Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claims
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)
Individual Flight Record (Logbook) - Richard I. Bong, December 27, 1942
"12/27 / P-38 / 27 zeros , 12 dive bombers Val type shot down dive bomber in flames and Oscar type Zero in 15 minutes combat. All tried out afterwards. Got one bullet hole in my left engine."
Individual Flight Record (Form 5) December 1942 list mission as 3 hours 20 minutes and as a local Port Moresby [sic, combat patrol]
Dick Bong (1960, 1980) page 23 "a little towheaded, pink-cheeked kid named Second Lieutenant Richard I. Bong, my former bad boy from San Francisco, got two..."
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 154 (Bong victories 1-2: December 27, 1942)

Return to First Tour of Duty | Richard I. Bong

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?