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

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)

Return to Second Tour of Duty | Richard I. Bong

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