Warbird Information Exchange

I got a PM asking about Bong photos so here are a few................
BTW my Uncle Andy was a Bong from a little town in northern Wisconsin

Receiving DSC from Gen Wurtsmith

and the MOH from American Caesar

In CONUS between tours

with the press in NG April 44

with Col Hutchinson 5th FC and Gen Kenney in the PI

Dobodura, NG

with "Marge"

in the cockpit

"Marge''

ready to fly

wearing Jack Markin's flying gear for a PR photo at Dobodura 1943

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Don't touch my junk!!

Like, wow, man, the only fighter pilot I know who's had recreational smoking paraphernalia named after him.

I always felt like he's been somewhat forgotten by the Air Force today. There should be a Richard Bong Air Force Base (not the half built/scrapped and forgotten one)...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Is it true that he could have bailed out, but stayed ith the aircraft to ensure that it wouldn't hit a school?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Also too bad that no one thought enough to save the real marge. Could you imagine seeing that in the NMUSAF or NASM? At least the NASM P-38 was flown by him at one point. The NMUSAF has a great deal of his gear and belongings on display.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Blev Lewelling who flew with Bong a lot in the 9th FS shared a few
tidbits about him.
Bong had a few problems.
1. although he was a good pilot he was a throttle jockey.
He flew the a/c but didn't really under stand them. The P-80
would never have happened if he had used the checklist especially flying a unfamilar a/c.
2. He was a very poor leader. All his experience and with the rank of Major and yet he had no more responsibility than a 2Lt right out of flight school. He was a freelancing hired gun basically.
3. Blev said also that he was very hard on wingmen.

I would suggest the the museum in WI is his memorial.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Geez Chris New Guinea was a combat area the that P-38 was a needed combat aircraft.
It served the purpose for which it was intended for and need for.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Yeah, but didn't he take that P-38 home with him stateside for the tour. Just meant that it would have been cool to preserve it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

No he didn't. It was lost on a combat mission.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Wonder if there is anything left of it now?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

TriangleP, I'd be interested in seeing the rest of that article.......do you happen to have a link to Page 8, Column 6?

Chris, according to the article, it sounds like he did indeed try to bail out. But being only 50 ft. in the air when he did, there was clearly no time for a chute to open.

Jack, what was the checklist issue that he shoudl've done? Since the article continued on another page, the info as to why the P-80 crashed is incomplete. From what I could read, however, it seemed like he had an issue with the engine right after takeoff. Although it does seem odd that the plane just "exploded" right as he bailed out.

Either way, it's all a sad ending to someone who clearly loved to fly.

Gary

IIRC he didn't turn on the fuel boost pumps and the engine flamed out or something along those lines.

Regards,
Mike

Rex Barber who was flying P-80s there at the time said Bong never
used a checklist and failed to turn on the fuel boost pump which was a required item
and the engine flamed out just after take-off.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Ahhhh....that makes sense then.

I wonder what caused it to explode in flight then? Maybe he pushed the stick forward upon leaving the aircraft, causing negative G's, breaking the wings off?

Gary