Bong’s 99-year-old sister Gerry Fechtelkotter, center, was in attendance at the Bong Center on May 23 for the announcement that searchers found the fighter plane Bong had named after his future wife while serving in New Guinea in 1944. Photo by Ed Newman.

On Thursday, May 23, researchers announced from Papua, New Guinea’s Madang Province that they had found the wreckage of one of World War II ace Richard Bong’s planes in the South Pacific. This plane, that he had named “Marge,” wore nose art featuring a photo of the sweetheart he would later marry before the end of the war.

The announcement of the find was made via a video news conference to journalists around the world, including a roomful at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Center in Superior, where Bong’s 99-year-old sister 99-year-old Gerry Fechtelkotter sat enthusiastically absorbing the news.

The press conference began with introductory remarks by John Gidley, Executive Director of the Bong Veterans Center. The mission, Gidley stated, was straightforward. “Whatever became of Richard Bong’s P-38 named Marge which crashed on March 24, 1944, in Papua, New Guinea?” 

Briana Fiandt, Curator of Collections and Exhibits, shared why this was such an iconic plane. Richard Ira Bong was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots in history and the country’s top flying ace. A U.S. Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient, Bong has been credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. 

Bong himself was not flying the plane the day it crashed in March 1944. Rather, it was being flown by another pilot, Thomas Malone. Bad weather and mechanical issues forced Malone to bail out, so the plane was lost. “Its discovery is a significant historical find,” Fiandt said. 

The expedition to find Bong’s plane – code name Mission: Marge – was undertaken as a partnership between the Veterans Center and a nonprofit organization called Pacific Wrecks. The mission of Pacific Wrecks has been to chronicle, investigate and safeguard the history of military aircraft wreckages and crash sites, mainly from the Pacific Theater during World War II. The organization has been vital in capturing and sharing the narratives behind these wrecks, paying tribute to those who served and informing the public about the war’s events and sacrifices.

Fiandt then introduced the team, streaming live from Papua where it was 4 am. The two chief spokespersons were Steve Kleiman, project manager for the expedition, and Justin Taylan, founder of Pacific Works and team lead. They were joined by Norman Nayak of the Madang governor’s staff, and team photographer Joe Carillet.

Seated on a couch with three of his compadres, Steve Kleiman began, “Hello, Wisconsin, from Nadang!”  

Justin Taylan opened his remarks by thanking the Bong Center, and especially Briana Fiandt, for setting the project in motion. The team had come to locate one of the most important crash sites of World War II and it was a success. “Marge” was Bong’s first and most famous plane, in part because of the larger-than-life portrait of his sweetheart on the fuselage, and also because of the distinctive red wingtips and other painted embellishments. While flying this plane he notched three of his record-setting 40 aerial kills. 

“It was an amazing find,” said Taylan. 

When they located the crash site the engines were buried, but the red paint on the wingtips was still visible. Upon reaching the Marge they located the serial number and confirmed the find. All members of the team touched her. “Mission accomplished.”

“It was quite emotional,” Taylan added.

Nayak said, “Hooray” and Carillet concurred. “I was in the midst of history,” he said.

During a Q&A they were asked how they found the plane. Using historical references, Pacific Wrecks spent more than two years researching. “There are thousands of wrecks there.” 

The first plane they found there was a Japanese aircraft. When it was learned that this was not the Bong plane, the locals said there was a second plane near the plantation. This second plane was The Marge.

An old logging road nearby gave them access to the vicinity of the crash site. Even so, to reach the site they were supplied with 16 locals who carved a trail and helped carry their gear. Taylan said they were lucky this forest had not been logged or the plane would likely have been lost forever.

For history buffs it’s noteworthy that approximately 10,000 Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft were produced, serving in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific and China-Burma-India (CBI) theaters. Of these, around 1,800 were lost in combat or accidents. This figure includes aircraft lost due to enemy action, mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors. 

Major Bong’s last flight took place on August 6, 1945, the same day the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. During a test flight while piloting a P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter the aircraft’s engine malfunctioned shortly after takeoff. Bong attempted to eject but was unable to do so in time, resulting in his fatal crash in Burbank, California. 

He was just over a month shy of his 25th birthday.