How Richard Bong Took On 9 Zeros With His P-38 And Won

America’s top-scoring ace, Major Richard Bong, was known for his calm precision and unmatched skill in the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning “Marge.” But one mission over the Pacific nearly ended his remarkable run and showed exactly why he became the United States’ “Ace of Aces.”

Flying at high altitude with his wingman, Bong spotted a formation of Japanese bombers escorted by fighters. As he prepared to attack, he glanced to his side and froze: the aircraft beside him wasn’t his wingman, but a Japanese Zero. Instinct took over. Bong rolled his P-38 into a steep dive, relying on the Lightning’s superior speed to escape.

As he descended toward the ocean, he found himself flying straight toward nine more Zeros approaching head-on. Any hesitation could have been fatal. Outnumbered and alone, Bong made a split-second decision that only a seasoned ace could make—attack.

He charged directly at the Japanese formation, guns blazing. His first burst ripped through one Zero, sending it spinning into the sea. The sudden explosion threw the Japanese formation into chaos. Bong used the confusion to pick off a second enemy fighter, and moments later, damaged a third before breaking away.

Within two minutes, Bong had turned near-certain death into victory, downing two Zeros and surviving an encounter that would have destroyed most pilots. His aggressive instincts and mastery of the P-38’s strengths made the difference between life and death.

When he returned to base, Bong had proven once again why he was the greatest American ace of the war. His total would rise to 40 victories, but few matched the intensity of that day.