Richard Bong was a United States Air Force pilot and the highest-scoring American ace of World War II. He was born on September 24, 1920, in Wisconsin and became known for his exceptional flying skills and bravery in combat. Bong flew the P-38 Lightning and achieved 40 confirmed aerial victories against enemy aircraft. After the war, Richard Bong became a test pilot and contributed to the development of military aviation. He tragically died in a plane crash on August 6, 1945, while testing a new aircraft. Today, he is remembered as a hero and is honored at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Wisconsin.