Originally posted by cempa
So, I think your point about McCampbell being a great pilot was a valid one. But suggesting that his record eclipses Bong's is not a valid point. They flew at essentially different periods in the Pacific. A case can be made for either one being the best; but Bong's record stands; and if we're going to play what-if, then I think Bong's what-if trumps McCampbell's. 
Well, Bong was an HO weenie
Seriously, a surprising amount of his kills were from head-on attacks.
In terms of victories per combat sortie, McCampbell easily exceeds Bong. In terms of speed of accumulation, McCampbell is once again far ahead of Bong. But yes, they flew under differing circumstances and McCampbell was right at the center of the most massive air battles in the Pacific.
As to what they shot down, they had very similar percentages of fighter/bomber/recce kills.
As to skill, opportunities, quality of the enemy... I'll discuss this some.
Bong's first kills were of a Zero and a Val (not an Oscar according to 49th FG records). His primary victims were Ki-43s, among the least able fighters in the IJAAF. McCampbell is credited with killing two Ki-27s, even less capable than the Oscar. McCampbell downed 5 Judys and two Zeros during the Turkey Shoot. All of his record 9 kills (and two probables, which were last seen spinning towards the ocean) were fighters, 7 Zeros and two Ki-43s. His wingman shot down 4 Zeros and one Oscar, while another squadronmate shot down 4 Zeros. It is believed (based upon Japanese records) that 40 fighters (31 Zeros, 9 Ki-43s) were in the group attacked by McCampbell, Rushing and Slack. 18 returned to base. This indicates that most of McCampbell's and Rushing's probable and damage claims failed to return. However, the fact that three Hellcats were able to overpower 40 Japanese fighters indicates that the Japanese weren't of more than poor to average quality and that the Navy pilots, in superior aircraft, were very, very good.
Bong's biggest day was on July 26, 1943 when he got four. Many of his kills were singles, 13 of them. He shot down 2 on ten occasions, with 3 on one and the above mentioned 4 on another. Bong was a steady scorer, but not prone to big days like McCampbell or McGuire. McCampbell generally scored in bunches, with 16 kills scored in two days.
Generally, they faced different enemies, with Bong largely fighting the IJAAF and McCampbell usually squaring off against the IJNAF. Some might argue that the IJNAF had superior pilots to the IJAAF. While this may be true at the beginning of the war, it was not so by mid 1944. Both branches were severely depleted. Bong faced pilots of greater skill than McCampbell, but McCampbell usually faced much larger concentrations of fighters.
Bong scored well against the IJNAF when he encountered them. McCampbell scored well against the IJAAF as well.
Someone pointed out that Bong had an advantage. During his second tour with the 5th AF HQ, he was able and allowed to pick and choose missions based upon the likelihood of enemy contact. McCampbell didn't enjoy that luxury. As CAG, he was airborne for every major action. However, that could be viewed as an equal advantage because Essex was smack in the middle of the largest carrier actions of the war up to that time.
Both of these men were extraordinary combat pilots, probably among the best their nation had to offer. They fought under different circumstances and excelled. But the question begs, if they had switched roles, who would have scored higher? We'll never know, but it's fun the theorize.
My regards,
Widewing
