2nd Lt Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claims, March 11, 1943
First Tour of Duty

Mission History
On March 11, 1943 2nd Lt. Richard I. Bong took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4) piloting P-38G-15 Lightning serial number unknown, squadron number 80 as part of "Green Flight" led by Lt. Fowler with Carl Planck as his wingman plus Hanning and Overson on a scramble mission to intercept a Japanese air raid by bombers and fighters over the area. The P-38s took off just ahead of Japanese bombs exploding on the runway that destroyed three parked P-38s.

After climbing to 26,000', they were vectored to intercept the Japanese formation of twenty-four G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M Zeros at 15,000' east of Oro Bay. At 10:50am P-38s piloted by Woods, Mankin and Bong in close echelon formation attacked a Betty bomber. Bong fired at an inverted Zero in a dive and pulled out at 475 mph above sea level. After pulling up and reversing course, he made a head on pass at an A6M Zero with a centerline drop tank and fired a long burst at it causing it to erupt in flames. Next, he fired on another A6M Zero with a centerline drop tank with a short burst, followed by an attack on seven other Zeros head on with a 20 degree deflection shot at the nearest plane and accelerated away. As he departed the area, one of the Zeros fired on his P-38 from the left quarter and hit his plane, causing a coolant leak in the left engine and required Bong to feather the engine. Returning on a single engine, Bong landed safely at Horanda Drome after 1 hour 15 minutes airborne.

Claims
Bong was officially credited for two victories, his seventh and eight victories. He also claimed a probable Zero and a Betty as damaged.

Awards
For his actions, Bong earned an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star.

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, March 11, 1943
"3/11 / P-38 / Shot down 2 Oscars in flames & probably shot down another smoking in one pass head on. 2 in flames had belly tanks [drop tanks] on. Made one pass at 27 bombers and hit one. Approximately 25 Zeros escort. 3 lines of traces going by me at once. Hit several times had to feather one engine. Got off the ground just ahead of the bombs. Lost 3 P-38s on the ground.
Individual Flight Record (Form 5) March 1943
Historical Record, 49th Fighter Group, Chapter 2 page 25
"2nd Liieut. Richard I. Bong of the 9th Squadron lead a flight of three planes which tangled with the enemy and resulted in two Zeros for Lieut. Bong. While Lieut. Bong put in a good burst in one of the bombers, he was peppered by enemy fire which shot up his plane quite badly but still was able to come in without any mishap.
Lieut Bong gave the following account on the engagement:
'"I tool off just ahead of the bombs and climbed up to 24,000 feet. We intercepted the bombers on their way home. I made a 20 degree pass from ahead and above and put a good burst in the last bomber. There wore no observed results. Nine Zeros dove on me and I had to dive to 475 mph-indicated to got away. I tried to go back for another pass at the bombers but was intercepted by Zeros and chased down to water level.
We were headed towards Gasmata. I flow straight until I could see only one Zero behind me. I made a 180 degree turn and put a long burst into the Zero head-on. Instead of only one Zero, there were nine or more and I turned 5 degrees left and put a short burst into another Zero head-on. Both of these had their belly tanks on. Turned 10 degrees right and put a long burst into another Zero from 20 degrees deflection, then I turned 20 degrees left to observe the results.
The first two Zeros were burning all around the cockpit and the third one was trailing a long column of smoke. Three Zeros split "s'd" down on me and shot up my left engine and wing while I was running for home. I feathered the left engine and landed at home field safely. I claim two certains and one probable."
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 154 (Bong victories 7-8: March 11, 1943)

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