How a Farm Boy’s “Impossible” Trick made Him Destroy 40 Japanese Planes... All Alone

Richard Bong became America’s highest-scoring fighter ace of World War II after being credited with destroying 40 Japanese aircraft in the Pacific. This documentary follows the remarkable journey of a Wisconsin farm boy who mastered the P-38 Lightning and developed an aggressive close-range approach to aerial combat. Assigned to the Southwest Pacific, Bong scored his first two victories over New Guinea in December 1942. Although he admitted that he was not a naturally accurate marksman, he compensated by maneuvering extremely close to enemy aircraft before firing. The P-38’s concentrated nose-mounted cannons and machine guns made this dangerous method especially destructive when Bong successfully positioned himself behind a target. His 40 victories were achieved across many combat missions, not during a single battle and not entirely without support from other American pilots. Bong fought over New Guinea, Borneo, and the Philippines, frequently volunteering for missions even after becoming an operations and gunnery instructor. His courage earned him the Medal of Honor and the title of America’s Ace of Aces. Watch the full documentary to discover how Richard Bong transformed close-range gunnery into a deadly advantage, survived repeated air battles, and became a legend of Pacific aviation. Subscribe for more documentaries about fighter pilots, aerial combat, famous aircraft, and the hidden stories of World War II. #RichardBong #P38Lightning #FighterPilots #PacificWar #WorldWarII