Richard Bong, a legendary fighter pilot who was America’s top ace in World War II, shot down 40 Japanese planes during the war. However, the fate of his plane remained a mystery for decades until recently. Bong loved planes and his girlfriend Marge, and he painted her face on his P38 before it crashed into the jungles of Papua New Guinea over 80 years ago.
The mystery of the plane’s existence was solved when the Bong Center reached out to Pacific Wrecks, a group that works to solve World War II mysteries. Lt. Thomas Malone was the pilot when the plane went down but survived by bailing out. The mission to find the plane with Marge’s face on it became an incredible journey and expedition, led by Justin Taylan and his crew.
After an exhaustive search, they finally located the crash site in a jungle ravine. The plane had crashed so hard that most of its engines were buried in the dirt; however, the red paint of the P38 Marge plane was identified. Crews finally found the serial number, confirming that it was indeed Bong’s plane.
The discovery brought immense emotion, especially for Bong’s family. His 99-year-old sister Gerry Fechtelkotter expressed her joy and said she would love to bring a part of Marge home. Unfortunately, Bong tragically died during a test flight in the U.S at age 24. However, this discovery has brought closure and a sense of peace to his family and historians who have long wondered about the fate of this legendary fighter pilot.
In conclusion, Richard Bong is remembered as one of America’s greatest military heroes who sacrificed himself for his country’s freedom during World War II. The recent discovery of his plane has brought closure to his family and helped historians understand more about this legendary fighter pilot’s life and legacy.
