Richard Ira "Dick" Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning .

U.S. Army Air Corps Major Richard Ira Bong was presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during World War II.

Known as the “Ace of Aces” for his rank as the top American flying ace during World War II, Major Richard Ira Bong is credited with the downing of an impressive confirmed total of 40 enemy aircraft over the course of his career as a fighter pilot. In December 1944, Bong received the Medal of Honor from General Douglas MacArthur for his service.

Major Bong went on to shoot down 38 more enemy fighter planes making him the Ace of Aces in World War II, thus earning the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was awarded the MoH from General Douglas MacArthur on December 8th 1944 for his actions in the 49th Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps.

Bong's funeral service was held at Corcordia Lutheran Church where he was married only six months earlier with crowds of mourners. Bong is buried at Poplar Cemetery in Poplar, WI at block 8, lot 10, grave 2 with a grave marker and military marker.

Major Richard Ira Bong is the United States' highest-scoring air ace, having shot down at least 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He was an officer and fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

17 December 1944: Major Richard Ira Bong, United States Army Air Corps, flying a Lockheed P-38 Lighting over San José on the Island of Mindoro, Commonwealth of the Philippines, shot down an enemy Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Allied reporting name, “Oscar”).

Major Bong is the top American ace of all wars with 40 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat. See the full citation from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website. For more information see the National Museum of the USAF website.

Maj. Richard I. Bong Unit: 49th Fighter Group Aircraft/position: P-38/pilot Place of action: Over Borneo and Leyte Date of action: Oct. 10, 1944 to Nov. 15, 1944 Born: Sept. 24, 1920, Poplar, Wis. Entered service at: Poplar, Wis. Citation For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the

Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in …