Richard Bong
1920 – 1945

Richard Bong

United States Air Force Medal of Honor recipient (1920–1945)

soldieraircraft pilotmilitary personnel
Born
1920-09-24, Superior
Died
1945-08-06
Birthplace state
Wisconsin

Biography

Richard Ira Bong was born in Superior, Wisconsin in 1920 and served as an officer and pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He shot down 40 Japanese aircraft, all in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and received the Medal of Honor. He died in California in 1945 while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter.

Occupation

Richard Bong is recorded as a soldier, a aircraft pilot and a military personnel, born in Wisconsin (1920–1945).

Connections to Wisconsin

Richard Bong was born in Superior, Wisconsin in 1920. Explore other notable figures from Wisconsin, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Superior

Richard Bong came from Superior. A full Aubrey report on Superior pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Richard Bong

Who was Richard Bong?
Richard Bong was United States Air Force Medal of Honor recipient (1920–1945), born in Wisconsin (1920 – 1945).
When and where was Richard Bong born?
Richard Bong was born on 1920-09-24 in Superior.
When did Richard Bong die?
Richard died on 1945-08-06.
What was Richard Bong known for?
Richard Bong is recorded as a soldier, a aircraft pilot and a military personnel.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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