Richard Bong

Richard Bong was an American fighter pilot and the top United States ace of World War II, credited with shooting down 40 enemy aircraft. Born in 1920 in Wisconsin, he joined the Army Air Corps and became a skilled pilot. He flew P-38 Lightning fighters in the Pacific Theater, earning the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill. After the war, Bong served as a test pilot until his tragic death in a plane crash in 1945. He is remembered as a heroic figure in aviation history and for his contributions to military strategy and air combat.