A question RE: Richard Bong:

[NickM]

Gang,


I was thumbing thru this new book at Barnes and Noble:
https://www.amazon.com/Race-Aces-Air...QVWYZZ4DKEKEGY


RE: the leading aces in SoPac: Bong, McGuire, Kearby, Johnson & McDonald.



I came across a couple of factoids that I hope somebody can elaborate on: Bong had lost a couple of wingmen in combat and it badly affected him-so much so he asked to be allowed to fly alone so he wouldn't have other men's lives in his hands-anybody got details as to the men and their loss?
Also
Another story had Bong being led in a two man strafing mission by another pilot--both got hit by flak and the other guy was killed but Bong staggered back. The loss of the other pilot resulted in a LOT of ill will toward Bong that persisted well into the post war present. Again, any details of the incident and the other pilot is welcome.
(EDIT: I did a bit of research and learned the other pilot leading that mission was Tommy Lynch.)

Thanks ahead of time.

[Alfred.MONZAT]

I don't understand your query, the book provide these details .

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Suggest you have a word with the author:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=55113

Your link to the book is non-functional.

Col.

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT

I don't understand your query, the book provide these details .

Simple: why were squad mates angry at Bong for Lynch's death--it's a piece of Lore I had never heard before;
And I know next to nothing about Bong's career, so I had no info RE: his dead wingmen and who, what, when, how.

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Col Bruggy

Hello,

Suggest you have a word with the author:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=55113

Your link to the book is non-functional.

Col.

Fixed the linky--I JUST noticed.

[Edward]

Tommy Lynch was a very popular officer as well as successful P-38 pilot from the 39th Fighter Squadron. He had flown combat missions over New Guinea since mid-May 1942. He was part of the team who first began flying the P-38 Lightning during the Buna campaign in November & December 1942. He later served as Squadron Commander in 1943. Tommy Lynch was revered by the men of his Squadron and was regarded as a hero back in the U.S.. He went out on that final mission with Dick Bong on 9 March 1944 and did not come home. Bong lived and returned to base while Lynch died. Regardless of what actually happened many of the men of V Fighter Command and especially those of the 39th Squadron had lost a hero and resented Bong.

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Edward

Tommy Lynch was a very popular officer as well as successful P-38 pilot from the 39th Fighter Squadron. He had flown combat missions over New Guinea since mid-May 1942. He was part of the team who first began flying the P-38 Lightning during the Buna campaign in November & December 1942. He later served as Squadron Commander in 1943. Tommy Lynch was revered by the men of his Squadron and was regarded as a hero back in the U.S.. He went out on that final mission with Dick Bong on 9 March 1944 and did not come home. Bong lived and returned to base while Lynch died. Regardless of what actually happened many of the men of V Fighter Command and especially those of the 39th Squadron had lost a hero and resented Bong.

Thanks; that's the sort of stuff I never read about as a kid during the late 1960s and 1970s before my interest switched to the Jagdwaffe.


I had a similar experience on Youtube with somebody talking about P47s; we had a misunderstanding and he blocked me, but I learned that the 4th FG had some real performance and leadership issues as well as issues with the P47. I had never heard that about these issues before but sadly I shall probably never learn more due to this 'rupture'.