The 'Ace of Aces' - Major Richard I. Bong.

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on May 23, 2013 - 9:17am

There are some very well known wearers of Bulova wristwatches already chronicled here at MyBulova, here is one more.

Major Richard I. Bong.

Maj. Bong was a highly decorated Pilot accredited with the most enemy kills during WWII.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

The 'Ace of Aces' Watch of choice?

Bulova Type A-11

 

 

 

JP
Posted May 23, 2013 - 6:00pm

Very cool mark. Thanks for posting it. My father was a fighter pilot part of the time in WW II and he had one too. Later in his career he was issued the newer bulova pilots watch. He was a bomber pilot and then a torpedo plane pilot.

John

mybulova_admin
Posted May 25, 2013 - 4:58am

How can you tell it's a Bulova? Didn't others also manufacture military watches of the same design?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 25, 2013 - 5:59am

admin,

The Bulova A-11 is readily identifiable by its Chemin de fer (railroad track) chapter ring.

The Waltham and Elgins used an open style register.

vintagebulova.com
Posted May 25, 2013 - 7:17am

The Hamiltons had the closed chapter ring as well.  Based on the design of the numbers I concur the it's a Bulova.  Good find!

Jay

vintagebulova.com