Richard I. Bong
Overseas to Australia, September 1942–November 1942

On September 5, 1942 Bong, 2nd Lt. Carl G. Planck, Jr., 2nd Lt. Norman "Sneezy" D. Hyland, 2nd Lt. Walter M. Markey, Jr. were passengers in the nose of a LB-30 Liberator that departs Hamilton Field at 10:00pm on an overnight flight bound for Hawaii then across the Pacific to Australia. On September 6, 1942 at 7:00am the LB-30 landed at Hickam Field and the passengers had the day to tour Oahu. Bong visited Honolulu, Waikiki and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel then toured USS Argonaut docked in Pearl Harbor. On September 7, 1942 at 6:00am departs Hickam Field bound for Canton Airfield landing at 3:00pm and took off again at 6:00pm crossed the International Date Line then and lands at Nadi Airfield. On September 8, 1942 lands at Nadi Airfield at 1:00pm and spent the night. On September 9, 1942 at 6:00am took off from Nadi Airfield for the final leg of the ferry flight to Australia. On September 10, 1942 at 3:00pm lands at Brisbane.

Bong summarized the overseas flight in his Flight Record (Logbook) "left Frisco [San Francisco, ] LB-30 10PM. Arr[ived] Hickam Field 9/6 7AM. Honolulu Time. Honolulu stinks but Waikiki Beach OK. Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Went through Argonaut largest sub in world at Hawaii. Left H.F. [Hickam Field] 6:00 AM 9/7/42 arrived Canton Island 3PM [crossed] International Date Line. 9/7 left Canton 6PM. 9/8 arr[ived] Fiji Is. 1 PM. 9/9 Left Fiji 6AM 9/10 arr[ived] Brisbane Aus[tralia] 3pm 9/10."

In Australia, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) “The Flying Knights”, as a fighter pilot. On September 20, 1942 Bong took off from Amberly Field piloting a P-38F Lightning on his first flight in Australia. For the remainder of the month, he continued to fly training flights including two missions flying at high altitude of 37,000' and 36,500'. At the time, the 9th Fighter Squadron was one of two squadrons selected to convert to the P-38F Lightning.

On October 14, 1942 Bong and Planck were temporarily assigned to the newly formed 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional) at Amberley Field. Bong and Planck were some of the only pilots with previous experience flying the Lightning. For six weeks, the pair helped other pilots learn to fly the new twin engine fighter. On November 14, 1942 took off from Amberley Field bound for New Guinea.

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