SUPERIOR, WI (KDAL) – A humanitarian and historical recovery effort centered on honoring the crash site of Major Richard Bong’s P-38 “Marge” plane is entering a new phase.
The plane crashed in New Guinea in 1944 while being flown on a weather reconnaissance mission by another pilot.
The crash site was discovered two years ago during an expedition led by Justin Taylor, the founder of a group called “Pacific Wrecks”.
In mid June, Taylor will lead another mission that includes two people from the Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior and two nephews of Major Bong.
The new mission will be conducted with deep respect for the historical significance of the area and the humanitarian partnerships with the local New Guinea communities.
The goals of the “Mission Marge” is to honor the crash site, assist with building a fresh water pipeline to an area village and provide books and other supplies to the local school.
Richard Bong was America’s “Ace of Aces” shooting down 40 enemy aircraft in World War Two and was a Medal of Honor recipient.
Bong was born in Superior and died in a 1945 crash while test piloting a P-80 jet aircraft in California.
Find more information on “Mission Marge” at https://bongcenter.org/mission-marge/
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