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Dick Bong: America's Ace of Aces
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- GenresHistoryMilitary History
143 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
21 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
George C. Kenney
24 books1 followerGeorge Churchill Kenney was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II, the commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 5, 2024
Yes, the all time top scoring US ace was named Dick Bong. No, this is not a good book.
It's written by his commanding officer, who I strongly suspect of playing loose with the facts. While it's clear that Dick shot loads of ammunition into enemy planes, there is very little discussion about how exactly he gave them such a pounding. I was hoping for some tactical descriptions of how Bong delivered all those hits, but was left disappointed.
It's written by his commanding officer, who I strongly suspect of playing loose with the facts. While it's clear that Dick shot loads of ammunition into enemy planes, there is very little discussion about how exactly he gave them such a pounding. I was hoping for some tactical descriptions of how Bong delivered all those hits, but was left disappointed.
April 13, 2019
Very short biography of America's highest scoring WW II ace.
July 30, 2023
This story was written about my husbands second cousin. It is the memories of his commanding officer that took Richard under his wing. Richard was born and raised in Poplar Wisconsin and went to school at Superior Wisconsin. Superior Wisconsin has a memorial museum in his honor as well as Bong bridge that crosses into Deluth Minnesota from Superior. My husband and I were able to go see both on a vacation.
War is ugly and gruesome but part of our history, it also tells where each of us came from and the world our ancestors had to survive in order for us to be here and hopefully learn from their mistakes.
I pray to God That Richards record will never be broken, that we never have to be in a situation like that again and that their is never another battle in our skies.
War is ugly and gruesome but part of our history, it also tells where each of us came from and the world our ancestors had to survive in order for us to be here and hopefully learn from their mistakes.
I pray to God That Richards record will never be broken, that we never have to be in a situation like that again and that their is never another battle in our skies.
July 11, 2019
Excellent account of the life and experiences of hero pilot.
I am now almost 90 years old. Started following this man's life as a boy. He was one of my hero's. I'm glad that I no longer have to wonder what on earth became of him. Now
I know.
I am now almost 90 years old. Started following this man's life as a boy. He was one of my hero's. I'm glad that I no longer have to wonder what on earth became of him. Now
I know.
July 29, 2023
Great Read for an Unsung Hero
I grew up in Wisconsin and never heard about Bong. I served in Naval aviation in the 80s where I learned how much of those who serve are really thought of. Thanks for the biography.
I grew up in Wisconsin and never heard about Bong. I served in Naval aviation in the 80s where I learned how much of those who serve are really thought of. Thanks for the biography.
December 19, 2019
Dick Bong was definitely an American hero.
I enjoyed the way his story was told. It was concise, precise, and well written with just the right amount of emotion.
I enjoyed the way his story was told. It was concise, precise, and well written with just the right amount of emotion.
June 17, 2021
Very well written book about a true American hero.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Pacific war.It is the most readable book of this genre I have found.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Pacific war.It is the most readable book of this genre I have found.
January 25, 2022
Good book about a great person.
A person whom People should always remember. nicely written and easy to read a good book about a great person.
A person whom People should always remember. nicely written and easy to read a good book about a great person.
May 11, 2022
Written by someone who not only knew Dick Bong, but all of the aviators as he was the commanding General. Concise remembrances of a great military person who served his country.
December 28, 2020
An amazing flyer, an incredible pilot who seemed to be able to fly the Lightening (P38) at both low and high level with supreme confidence.
Really great read telling us so much about the man, his background and family. It was a shame that more was not mentioned on his demise. A true Hero.
Really great read telling us so much about the man, his background and family. It was a shame that more was not mentioned on his demise. A true Hero.
March 5, 2015
The story is told by Lieutenant General George Churchill Kenney, who was Major Bong's commander during World War II. It gives a good look at that father-son relationship that Kenney and Bong had, along with some anecdotes that highlight the competition among pilots. However, this is told through Kenney's voice fifteen years after the death of Bong so we only see part of the story - Kenney's. It is written is a straight forward style, but parts of the narrative seem rushed, especially the early deployments and "kills."
Still, this is an important book to get a glimpse of the person who is America's "Ace of Aces" since little has been written about him otherwise as of this writing.
Still, this is an important book to get a glimpse of the person who is America's "Ace of Aces" since little has been written about him otherwise as of this writing.
March 27, 2015
I don't normally read biographies. And to be honest with you I only picked it out because my English teacher made me pick a biography for a school project and I found the title humorous. Now that I have read it I can affirm that this book is a good example of "Don't judge a book by it's cover." I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone interested in war/aviation/history. The book starts off talking about how he grew up and his early aviation days and by the end you know his whole story from how his mama cooks a chicken to how he competed with his wingman for confirmed kills. It kept me entertained and wanting to read more. Give it a go! Dick Bong is worth the read.
February 24, 2019
This is a somewhat bland account of Bong's career written by his commanding officer. It lacks any details of actual combat, instead focusing on events in Bong's life, the competition between aces and the author's personal interaction with Bong. No details are provided about the circumstances surrounding his death other than he bailed out of a P-80 on a test flight at too low an altitude for his parachute to open.
Written in the simple manner one would expect from a book written in 1960. A fine book if you'd like a simple summary of Bong's career. If one is after a book filled with details of air to air combat, this is not the book to read.
Written in the simple manner one would expect from a book written in 1960. A fine book if you'd like a simple summary of Bong's career. If one is after a book filled with details of air to air combat, this is not the book to read.
September 26, 2020
A True Hero
Since I am a Wisconsin native, I had the opportunity to visit the Bong Memorial in Poplar,Wisconsin. It was located at that time at the school and outside was a P 38 Lightning. In the school was a small memorial room with many items of his including his uniform and medals. Reading the book,it was inspiring to read about how a small town boy would eventually become a national hero!
Since I am a Wisconsin native, I had the opportunity to visit the Bong Memorial in Poplar,Wisconsin. It was located at that time at the school and outside was a P 38 Lightning. In the school was a small memorial room with many items of his including his uniform and medals. Reading the book,it was inspiring to read about how a small town boy would eventually become a national hero!
May 6, 2010
Dick Bong is still America's top air ace with over 40 confirmed kills in WWII. He died test piloting a P-80, America's first jet engined warplane, when a fuel pump failed on takeoff. According to Wikipedia "Bong successfully escaped the aircraft, but was too low for his parachute to deploy."
What's all this mean? Quite simply that a man named Bong died because he wasn't high enough.
What's all this mean? Quite simply that a man named Bong died because he wasn't high enough.
August 4, 2017
I read this many years ago, but it made an impact on me. I still remember the descriptions of Dick Bong's ability to lead a target and shoot it down with the minimum rounds. His is one of the many great stories of fighter pilots of WWII - his happens to be that of the number 1 US Ace of WWII - who died testing the next generation of fighters.
March 9, 2025
It is difficult for many to think of a war that involved the whole nation and one that was all-encompassing. World War II was that war and this is the story of America's premier fighter pilot and ace. We should never forget the sacrifices made for our freedom.
April 7, 2019
Good flowing story
Enjoyable read interesting look into a small portion of the life of a fighter ace. If you're ever in the area of superior Wisconsin take in the bong memorial museum nice little museum and awesome volunteers from the American legion add to the experience.
Enjoyable read interesting look into a small portion of the life of a fighter ace. If you're ever in the area of superior Wisconsin take in the bong memorial museum nice little museum and awesome volunteers from the American legion add to the experience.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews