Richard Bong America’s Top Ace of WWII and Wisconsin Deer Hunter

Ammoland ^ | 10 October, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[DCBryan1]

Great article: Flight Journal Article by John Dejanovich: "Wingman to the Aces"

Lockheed P-38 L. Paint scheme of Maj. Gerald R. Johnson who flew with the 49th FG, 9th FS from Tacloban Field in the Philippines in October 1944. Twenty-five kills, later reduced to 22 confirmed kills. (Photo courtesy of Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum/ heathmoffattphoto.com

There are no great aces without great wingmen and young Lt. Floyd Fulkerson from Little Rock, Arkansas, was one of those wingmen. Although he had four confirmed victories, so he was nearly an ace himself, he sees his primary contribution to the war effort to have been the protection of his lead pilots, some of whom were America’s leading aces. During his time with the 475TH Fighter Group in the Pacific, Floyd flew with such notables as Major Richard Bong, Major Tommy McGuire, and even the much-celebrated “Lone Eagle,” Charles Lindbergh. Cover the shooter, that’s what wingmen do. They protect the shooter from surprise attack. In this role, Fulkerson helped some of our great aces achieve their successes.

Author John Dejanovich:

[Lurker]

I just looked and found that I have darn near a full box of the old Bronze Tip ammunition in .300 Savage. Damn shame I don’t have the rifle to go with it.

Fine old lever gun that 99. The rotary magazine was an interesting feature.

L

[marktwain]

The Savage 99 was way ahead of its time. The rotary magazine was a wonderful, but expensive feature. Its side ejection made scope mounting simple and in-line with the bore. Its action is strong enough for modern cartridges such as the .308 and .243.

It carries and points well, and is an accurate rifle.

To duplicate the craftsmanship today makes it an expensive rifle to produce.

[Maranatha7757]

Great tagline! Richard Bong displayed tremendous courage on his way to becoming an ace. He would fly his plane as close as possible to the enemy target and fire his .50 cals...many times at risk to his own safety,in order to ensure a kill.

[Trump_the_Evil_Left]

So a lot of Japanese pilots experienced “Bong hits” long before the 1960s....

Not the best way to get “high”....

[pepsi_junkie]

Bong didn't think he was a good shot so he'd fly right up to his target, close enough that he couldn't miss. The downside was that he'd end up occasionally flying through the wreckage after he cut the target to shreds and at least once he accidentally rammed his target, which probably destoyed it anyway but not what he intended.

Think about that, though. His flying skills must have been immense to use such a style in a dogfight.

[gundog]

A kid in my high school made a point of referring anyone that would listen to a book in the library called “Dick Bong. “ Interesting read. That was in the ‘70s

[stylin19a]

thank you.