Learning Center Our Enshrinees

Richard Ira Bong

• January, 1943 became an “ace” with five confirmed victories in just over a month.
• In April 1944 he recorded his 27th victory to pass Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I ace with 26 victories. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor in December 1944.
• After two years of combat, including over 200 missions, Bong had 40-recorded victories and seven probable victories.
• On Aug. 6th, 1945, in a test flight of the P-80 his plane exploded and Bong was killed. Coincidently, it happened the very same day the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.