With that, General Kenney gave him several weeks leave in Australia to recuperate.On February 3rd, 1943, Bong returned to duty with the 9th Fighter Squadron, then at Schwimmer, and he was to accomplish most of his combat flying with this unit. Dick Bong is buried in Poplar Cemetery in Poplar, WIWith 40 aerial victories, this Wisconsin farm boy became America's On that day, while Bong tested one of the new Shooting Stars, the primary fuel pump of his plane malfunctioned during takeoff. It was there that Bong was first noticed – he quickly mastered the AT-6, and caught the attention of experienced P-38 pilots who claimed the new pilot was a total natural. Unlike so many other trainees, Bong was able to keep up with the P-38 planes despite flying a far slower plane.Right after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor hit in 1942, Bong earned his Army Air Corps commission and his long-awaited pilot’s wings – and he immediately chose to learn a new craft as a gunner. By summer of 1943, Bong was promoted to the rank of captain – and his victories only continued. World War II ace Richard Bong probably didnât expect his wartime duties would include doing laundry and mowing grass, but thatâs exactly what the P-38 pilot was forced to do one morning in 1942. 6:31 pm
Asked in World War 2, Illegal Drugs, US in WW2 When did Richard Bong die? As a result, Bong reported to Kenney in Brisbane on September 10th, and was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group, called the Flying Knights squadron.
In fact, just one month later in January 1945, Bong was sent home, never to return as a fighter ace again. That was the last straw for Kenney who berated him and told him, âMonday morning you check this address out in Oakland and if the woman has any washing to be hung out on the line, you do it for her. The names that line the pages of history are many in number – the lengthy lists of men and women who fought, who died, who made incredible strides in the name of their nation during difficult wars and bloody battles. He was just too close to the ground.
(1:115)He grew up on a farm near the small town of Poplar, Wisconsin. |
Copyright © 2020 NAHF. "It's so nice that everybody feels that it's important to remember the things the guys did so long along to protect this country," said Jerry Fechtelkotter, Richard's sister.Richard I. Bong Veterans Center officials tell us they are planning a celebration for what would've been Bong's 99th birthday next month.AFTERNOON/TONIGHT: This afternoon will continue to be breezy with partly sunny skies. He began his training under Captain Barry Goldwater, a flight instructor who would later become a senator from Arizona.Days after becoming a member of the cadet program, Bong started training at the Rankin Aeronautical Academy in northern California. In fact, he spent a lot of time perfecting his marksmanship with his Winchester rifle. 61° This allowed the young student to take private flying lessons as well, satisfying his childhood love of aviation and planes themselves.Within two years, Bong knew it was time to change his future: instead of becoming a teacher, he decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program on May 29, 1941. Still determined to be a pilot, he enrolled in the collegeâs government-sponsored Civilian Pilot training program. He did his primary flight training at Rankin Aeronautical Academy in California in June 1941, and completed Basic at Gardner Field, California. 66°