Major Richard Ira Bong was an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between October 10 and November 15, 1944 over Borneo and Leyte, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with 49th Fighter Group, 5th Fighter Command, 5th Air Force. Bong was 24 years old.
The medal was presented on December 12, 1944. Tacloban air strip, Leyte, Philippine Islands, presented by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Bong was born on September 24, 1920 in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Poplar, Douglas County, Wisconsin. Bong died on August 6, 1945 in Burbank, California, at the age of 24. He is buried at Poplar Cemetery in Poplar, Wisconsin. His medal is held by Richard I. Bong Veterans Heritage Center, Superior, WI.
Bong is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down eight enemy airplanes during this period.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
How he died
- Manner of death: accidental death
- Age at death: 24
- Resting place: Poplar Cemetery
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Richard Ira Bong received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →
Timeline
- September 24, 1920Born in Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin
- October 10 - November 15, 1944Act of valor — over Borneo and Leyte, Philippine IslandsAge 24. 49th Fighter Group, 5th Fighter Command, 5th Air Force
- December 12, 1944Medal of Honor presentedTacloban air strip, Leyte, Philippine Islands, presented by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
- August 6, 1945Died in Burbank, CaliforniaAge 24.
- Resting placePoplar CemeteryPoplar, Wisconsin
Biography
Richard Ira "Dick" Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended.
From the Wikipedia article “Richard Bong”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- R.I. Bong Air Force Base — unfinished building, airbase
- Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge — tied-arch bridge, road bridge
Further reading
- 19 Flying Ace Medal of Honor Recipientscmohs.org · 2025
- We salute Maj. Dick Bong, for obvious reasonstaskandpurpose.com · 2021
