1st Lt Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claim, June 12, 1943
First Tour of Duty

Mission History
On June 12, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting P-38G Lightning serial number unknown on a flight to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby and landed to stage for this mission. Took off from 7 Mile Drome as one of twelve P-38s on a mission to escort C-47 Skytrains to Bena Bena. Bong flying in "Green Flight" as element leader for Sid Wood.

Roughly 10 miles southeast of Bena Bena, the P-38s engaged Ki-43 Oscars. During the air combat, Bong claimed a Ki-43 Oscar shot down. He also claimed another Oscar as damaged. During the engagement, his P-38 was hit by gunfire in the right boom but returning landed safely at Horanda Drome after 3 hours 25 minutes airborne.

Claims
Bong claimed a Betty shot down. Bong was officially credited with his eleventh aerial victory. He also claim an Oscar as damaged.

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, April 14, 1943
"6/12 / P-38 / Escort transports to Bena Bena. Shot down one Oscar out of control. Got four shots with hits on two. [My] aircraft received [5] bullet holes in my plane. Landed with flat tire had to pump the wheels down."
Individual Flight Record (Form 5) June 1942 lists the first flight as Kalamazoo-Jackson as 45 minutes and the second flight as Escort-Bena as 2 hours 40 minutes.
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 155 (Bong victories 10: April 14, 1943)

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