Captain Richard I. Bong Aerial Victory Claim, October 2, 1943
First Tour of Duty

Mission History
On October 2, 1943 took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) piloting P-38H Lightning serial number unknown, likely P-38H Lightning 42-66847 as one of fourteen P-38s on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders to Cape Hoskins on western New Britain. Bong was leading "Green Flight".

At 9:25am over Cape Hoskins, Bong claimed a Ki-46 Dinah shot down west of Gasmata. Afterwards, returned to Horanda Drome (Dobodura 4) after 3 hours 45 minutes airborne.

Claims
Bong was officially credited with his seventeenth aerial victory.

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, October 2, 1943
"10/2 / P-38 / Shot down 1 Dinah west of Gasmata. Escorting B-26s and B-25s to Cape Hoskins"
1st Lt Richard I. Bong Individual Flight Record (Form 5) July 1943 escort-Cape Hoskins 3 hours 45 minutes.
Stars & Bars: A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace 1920–1973 (1995) page 155 (Bong victories 17: October 2, 1943)

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