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Richard Bong America’s Top Ace of WWII and Wisconsin Deer Hunter
Ammoland ^ | 10 October, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 10/13/2018 5:01:44 AM PDT by marktwain

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To: marktwain
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:

21 posted on 10/13/2018 7:08:10 AM PDT by DCBryan1 (Quit calling them liberals, progs, socialists, or democrats. Call them what they are: COMMUNISTS!!!!)
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To: marktwain

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


22 posted on 10/13/2018 7:21:56 AM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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To: Lurker
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.

23 posted on 10/13/2018 7:37:13 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: DCBryan1

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.


24 posted on 10/13/2018 8:27:59 AM PDT by Maranatha7757
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To: FreedomPoster

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

Not the best way to get “high”....


25 posted on 10/13/2018 8:28:39 AM PDT by Trump_the_Evil_Left (FReeper formerly known as Enchante (registered Sept. 5, 2001), back from the wild....)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
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.

26 posted on 10/13/2018 8:48:28 AM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: stylin19a

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


27 posted on 10/22/2018 2:28:46 PM PDT by gundog (Hail to the Chief, bitches.)
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To: gundog

thank you.


28 posted on 10/22/2018 5:45:31 PM PDT by stylin19a ( Best.Election.Of.All.Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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