Piece of iconic WWII aircraft arrives on Guam 80 years after crashing in PNG

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

A piece of iconic fighter aircraft that crashed in the jungles of Papua New Guinea during World War II has arrived at Andersen Air Force Base on the first leg of its journey before proceeding to Hawaii and on to its final destination in Wisconsin.  

The wingtip from "Marge," the legacy Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft flown by Army Air Forces Maj. Richard Bong, landed on Guam on July 13.  

The historic artifact reached U.S. soil for the first time since the 1944 crash in Papua New Guinea, where it remained undisturbed for more than 80 until the Wisconsin Air National Guard recovered it.

The recovery of remnants from Mission Marge was part of an effort to preserve a piece of World War II aviation history.

Dubbed America's World War II "Ace of Aces,” Bong was Medal of Honor recipient and the plane was named after his fiancé, Marjorie Ann "Marge" Vattendahl.

"The leading World War II ace, Richard Bong, was born and raised in Poplar, Wisconsin," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Adria Zuccaro, the Wisconsin Air National Guard chief of staff-air. "The Wisconsin Air National Guard, who's a state partner, joined in on this really exciting historical moment."  

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The return of this surviving segment bridges the legacy of America's "Ace of Aces" with the modern Air Force.  

Zuccaro and the aircrew participated in the wingtip's recovery, transporting it aboard an existing mission returning from Papua New Guinea through the War Department National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.  

The arrival marks a major milestone in Mission Marge, a collaborative preservation endeavor between the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center and Pacific Wrecks.

Justin Taylan, founder of Pacific Wrecks, recounted Bong's military legacy and the expedition that uncovered his aircraft during a briefing at AAFB’s Sunrise Conference Center.

Taylan explained how historical records, archival research and an expedition to Papua New Guinea led investigators to the crash site in May 2024. The team documented thousands of images of the wreckage before identifying distinctive P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft components, which ultimately confirmed its identity.  

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"Where the red paint had faded away, below it, was a black stenciled '993,'" he said. "Finding the serial number on that wreckage was the sign that we had waited for, that this is Richard Bong's plane."  

Mitchell Erickson, Bong's nephew, answered questions from attendees at the end of the brief, detailing the significance of the recovery to his family and Air Force history.

"Seeing a piece of your history come through, especially the aircraft of the 'Ace of Aces,' is significant for airmen today," Erickson said. 

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