Richard Ira Bong came home last spring with 27 enemy planes to his credit, the country's leading ace. Soon cornfed, snub-nosed Dick Bong told home folks at Poplar, Wis. that he was through with combat flying. Lieut. General George Kenney had grounded him "because he didn't want to see me get killed." Major Bong settled down to a quiet life at gunnery school, while in Europe Lieut. Colonel Francis S. Gabreski shot down 28 planes, passing Bong's record. (Later, Gabreski was captured.)
Last week came the news which surprised no one. Back on duty in...
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