Major Richard I. Bong
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron and 5th Fighter Command (V Fighter Command)
Aerial Victory Claims

Aerial Victory Claims
Major Richard I. Bong was credited with a a total of 40 aerial victories and was America's highest scoring fighter pilot of World War II. All of his aerial victory claims were air-to-air flying the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

In total, Bong flew 211 combat missions in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Some longer missions that included refueling stops were divided into multiple missions for administrative purposes. Only 28 missions (13% of his combat missions) did he claim aerial victories, probables or damaged aircraft.

First Tour of Duty

Victory	Date	Time	Location	Claim	Notes on Aerial Victory Claim	Aircraft Flown
1	12/27/42	1210	Dobodura	Val	1st victory A6M Zero of 582 Kōkūtai.	P-38F 42-12644
2	12/27/42	1210	Dobodura	Zeke [sic]	2nd victory Ki-43-I Oscar of 11th Sentai.	P-38F 42-12644
	12/31/42	1235	Lae	Zeke [sic]	Probable claim Ki-43-I Oscar of 11th Sentai.	P-38F 42-12624
3	01/07/43	1315	Huon Gulf	Oscar	3rd victory Ki-43-I Oscar.	P-38F 42-12624
4	01/07/43	1530	Huon Gulf	Oscar	4th victory Ki-43-I Oscar.	P-38F 42-12624
	01/07/43	1530	Huon Gulf	Oscar	Probable claim.	P-38F 42-12624
	01/07/43	1530	Huon Gulf	Oscar	Claimed as damaged.	P-38F 42-12624
5	01/08/43	1800	Huon Gulf	Oscar	5th victory Ki-43-I Oscar became an "ace".	P-38F 42-12653
6	03/03/43	1015	Huon Gulf	Oscar	6th victory Ki-43-I Oscar.	P-38G-5
	03/03/43	1015	Huon Gulf	Oscar	Probable claim.	P-38G-5
7	03/11/43	1050	Oro Bay	Zero or Zeke	7th victory in the vicinity of Oro Bay.	P-38G-15
8	03/11/43	1050	Bismarck Sea	Zero or Zeke	8th victory in the vicinity of Gasmata.	P-38G-15
	03/11/43	1050	Bismarck Sea	Zero or Zeke	Probable claim.	P-38G-15
	03/11/43	1050	Bismarck Sea	Betty	Claimed as damaged.	P-38G-15
9	03/29/43	1145	Bismarck Sea	Doris [sic]	9th victory Ki-46 Dinah.	P-38G-5
10	04/14/43	1230	Cape Frere	Betty	10th victory. Earned Air Medal.	P-38G-5
	04/14/43	1230	Cape Frere	Betty	Probable victory claim.	P-38G-5
11	06/12/43	0935	Bena Bena	Oscar	11th aerial victory.	P-38G-5
	06/12/43	0935	Bena Bena	Oscar	Claimed as damaged.	P-38G-5
12	07/26/43	1350	Markham Valley	Tony	12th aerial victory.	P-38G-5
13	07/26/43	1350	Markham Valley	Tony	13th aerial victory.	P-38G-5
14	07/26/43	1410	Markham Valley	Zero [sic]	14th aerial victory likely Ki-43-II Oscar.	P-38G-5
15	07/26/43	1410	Markham Valley	Zero [sic]	15th aerial victory likely Ki-43-II Oscar.	P-38G-5
16	07/28/43	0830	Rein Bay	Oscar	16th aerial victory.	P-38G-5 #73
	09/06/43	1400	Morobe	Betty	Probable victory.	P-38H-1 #79
	09/06/43	1400	Morobe	Betty	Probable victory.	P-38H-1 #79
17	10/02/43	0925	Cape Hoskins	Dinah	17th aerial victory.	P-38H
18	10/29/43	1230	Rabaul	Zeke	18th aerial victory.	P-38H-5
19	10/29/43	1230	Open Bay	Zeke	19th aerial victory.	P-38H-5
	10/29/43	1230	Open Bay	Zeke	Claimed as damaged.	P-38H-5
20	11/05/43	1215	Rabaul	Zeke	20th aerial victory.	P-38H 42-66847
21	11/05/43	1215	Rabaul	Zeke	21st aerial victory.	P-38H 42-66847

Second Tour of Duty

Victory	Date	Time	Location	Claim	Notes on Aerial Victory Claim	Aircraft Flown
22	02/15/44	1055	Cape Hoskins	Tony [sic]	22nd victory D4Y1 Judy	P-38J 42-103993
23	03/03/44	1800	Tadji Airfield	Sally	23rd victory.	P-38J 42-103993
24	03/03/44	1815	Tadji	Sally	24th victory.	P-38J 42-103993
	03/05/44	1325	Dagua Airfield	Oscar	Probable victory.	P-38J 42-103993
	03/05/44	1340	Dagua Airfield	Oscar	Claimed as damaged.	P-38J 42-103993
25	04/03/44	1130	Hollandia	Oscar	25th victory.	P-38J
26	04/12/44	1145	Tanahmerah Bay	Oscar	26th victory.	P-38J 42-104012
27	04/12/44	1145	Hollandia	Oscar	27th victory.	P-38J 42-104012
28	04/12/44	1145	Hollandia	Oscar	28th victory, reportedly confirmed by divers.	P-38J 42-104012

Third Tour of Duty

Victory	Date	Time	Location	Claim	Notes on Aerial Victory Claim	Aircraft Flown
29	10/10/44	1050	Manggar Airfield	Sally/Irving	29th victory J1N1 Irving 381 Kōkūtai, S902	P-38L 44-23964
30	10/10/44	1105	Manggar	Oscar	30th victory.	P-38L 44-23964
31	10/27/44	1720	Biliran Island	Oscar	31st victory.	P-38J
32	10/28/44	1615	Leyte Island	Oscar	32nd victory.	P-38J
33	10/28/44	1650	Masbate Island	Oscar	33rd victory.	P-38J
	10/28/44	1650	Masbate Island	Oscar	Claimed as damaged.	P-38J
	10/28/44	1650	Masbate Island	Oscar	Claimed as damaged.	P-38J
34	11/10/44	0815	Ormoc Bay	Oscar	34th victory.	P-38L 44-23964
35	11/11/44	1235	Ormoc Bay	Zeke	35th victory.	P-38L 44-23964
36	11/11/44	1235	Ormoc Bay	Zeke	36th victory.	P-38L 44-23964
37	12/07/44	1505	Bohol Island	Sally	37th victory.	P-38L-1
38	12/07/44	1610	Ormoc Bay	Tojo	38th victory.	P-38L-1
39	12/15/44	0811	Panubulon Island	Oscar	39th victory.	P-38L-1
40	12/17/44	1625	San Jose	Oscar	40th victory.	P-38L-1

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