1st Lt. Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claims, July 26, 1943
First Tour of Duty

On July 26, 1943 at midday 1st Lt. Richard I. Bong took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting a P-38G-5 Lightning serial number unknown as one of twelve P-38s on an intercept mission bound for Lae. Bong was flying as part of "Blue Flight".

Over the Markham Valley engaged in air combat with Japanese fighters. Bong claimed four enemy planes shot down. At 1:50pm two Zeros (likely Ki-43 Oscars) and at 2:10pm two Ki-61 Tonys from 68th Sentai (68th Flying Regiment).

Claims
Bong was officially credited with four aerial victories, his twelve, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth aerial victories.

Awards
For his actions, Bong earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) awarded October 20, 1943.

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, July 26, 1943
"7-26 / P-38 / Shot down inline in flames, shot down Zero in flames, shot down Zero out of control, shot down inline out of controll. All over Markham Valley about 10 miles back of Lai [sic Lae] saw about 20 Nips but there were about 50 of them."
1st Lt. Richard I. Bong Individual Flight Record (Form 5) July 1943
Combat Report Mission No. 430, 26 July 1943 via Dear Mom: So We Have A War page 257
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation Advertisement - DSC Citation Captain Richard R. [sic I.] Bong
Dear Mom: So We Have A War (1991) by Carl Bong pages 257-259
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 155 (Bong victories 12-15: July 26, 1943)

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