Pacific Wrecks, a World War II aircraft recovery group, thinks it has found the wreckage of the P-38J flown by Major Richard Bong, America’s top flying ace.
Bong, born in Superior, Wisconsin, shot down 40 Japanese aircraft during WWII.
U.S. WWII Ace Richard Bong’s P-38 Believed Found
The fighter aircraft, which crashed in 1944, has been identified and verified in Papua New Guinea.
Key Takeaways:
- Pacific Wrecks has confirmed the discovery of Major Richard Bong's iconic P-38J Lightning "Marge" in a remote Papua New Guinean forest, 80 years after its crash.
- The aircraft, named after Bong's girlfriend and future wife, crashed in March 1944 with a different pilot due to engine failure, and its identity was positively confirmed through matching serial numbers after an extensive search.
- Major Bong was America's top WWII flying ace with 40 Japanese aircraft shot down, and the discovery of "Marge" is historically significant, adding to his celebrated legacy.
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