Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story

by Carl Bong, Mike O'Connor

Dust jacket "This is the story of Richard Bong, a Wisconsin farm boy who had an itch to fly. On June 2, 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program to learn to fly. Six months later he was caught up in the turmoil of World War II when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Richard Bong learned his flying lessons very well and was commissioned a flying officer on January 9, 1942. After a short assignment as an advanced flight instructor, he was assigned to Hamilton Field for fighter training in the P-38 Lightning in May. 'Whooey! What an airplane,' he wrote home. He was a young man in love with his airplane. He took his P-38 into combat and shot his way to the very top of the list of American Fighter Aces, with a count of 40 Japanese war planes and earned for himself the title of America's Ace of Aces."

223 pages, Imitation Leather

First published July 1, 1985

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very interesting read into the story of the man who holds the crown as the most prolific WWII fighter pilot (and most prolific in the history of aviation). It was a good biography of Major Bong, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most widely known figures of his time. I have grown up in Wisconsin and knowing of the Bong Recreation Area outside of Racine, yet never knew the backstop of the fighter ace behind the name.
I found it incredibly intriguing to read about his exploits and gain insight into a period of aviation that saw a huge uptake in utilization and diversification of air transport and combat capabilities. It was a mostly matter-of-fact recounting of the Major's action reports, with the interesting perspective of his personal letters home, and the insight from his family added in by his younger brother and coauthor of the title.
I walked away in awe of the man and the men he ew and fought with, and against, in a time that was so dramatically pistol in our recent world history.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many combat reports to make it a good read...but learned more about Dick Bong.