Captain Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory No. 24
Sally (Type 97 Heavy Bomber / Ki-21 Sally), March 3, 1944
Second Tour of Duty

Mission History
On March 3, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloting P-38J 42-103993 with P-38J Lightning pilot Lt. Col Thomas J. Lynch on a mission over Tadji Airfield. Over the target, Bong claimed two Ki-21 Sallys the first at 6:00pm over Tadji Airfield and the second at 6:15pm over Tadji his twenty-third and twenty-fourth aerial victory claims. He also claimed a Ki-61 Tony damaged but it was shot down by Lynch.

Claims
Bong was officially credited with two Ki-21 Sallys his twenty-third and twenty-fourth aerial victories. He also claimed a Ki-61 Tony damaged but it was shot down by Lt. Col Thomas J. Lynch, his nineteenth aerial victory claim.

References
Major Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claims
“Wingman Play Role of ‘Blocking Back’ in Aerial Fighter Combat.” Impact, Vol. 2, No. 6, June 1944, pp. 44-46. (models depicting Bong/Lynch March 3, 1944 air combat)
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: 02/15/44 page 418 (PDF page 423)
Captain Richard I. Bong Individual Flight Record (Form 5) March 1944
"2 [sic 3] / P-38 / 3:20 / CM / Nadzab-Tadji-Nad"
Individual Flight Record (Logbook) Richard Bong lists this mission as March 2, 1944 [sic March 3, 1944]
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 155 (Bong victories 23 & 24: March 3, 1944)

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