Richard Ira Bong was the United States’ top scoring and most highly decorated Ace of the Second World War.
He joined the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program in May 1941 and a year later was training on the new Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin engine fighter. When war broke out, Bong was sent to New Guinea and won a reputation for aggressively battling enemy aircraft at any opportunity, making Ace with five aerial victories in his first four engagements. By October 1944, Bong had a total of 30 victories and received the Medal of Honor and a ban on more combat flying. Despite orders, Bong pushed his score to 40, plus seven probables, before he was sent home in January 1945. Tragically, Bong lost his life test piloting the new generation of jets later that year.