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 M Brad 2026 |
Location Lat 46° 41' 23N Long 92° 5' 41W Richard I. Bong Airport is located at an elevation of 674' above sea level in Superior, Wisconsin in the Midwestern Region of the United States of America (USA). Previously known as Bryn Ostby Airport and Superior Municipal Airport (Superior Airport). Still in use today as Richard I. Bong Memorial Airport or Richard I. Bong Airport. Construction Built prewar as a civil airport known as Superior Municipal Airport. Wartime History During 1941, named Bryn Ostby Airport by the Superior city council for in honor of former Mayor Bryn Ostby in recognition of his leadership. On June 7, 1944 in the evening, P-38J 44-23491 piloted by Major Richard I. Bong landed at Superior Airport with a crowd of thousands watching. On June 8, 1944 the photograph of his girlfriend Marjorie "Marge" Ann Vattendahl yearbook portrait was adhered to the left gun cover by Superior Junior Chamber of Commerce, under the direction of Ted Gunderson, president, and Dr. Paul Miller Bong's first pre-flight instructor at Superior State Teachers College (today University of Wisconsin–Superior). Nicknamed "Marge" (Third Marge) in block letters in a triangular shape with a white border painted by George M. Janicki. On June 9, 1944 took off from Superior Airport piloted by Bong on a flight over Superior. On January 18, 1945 former Superior mayor suggested the airport be renamed Richard I. Bong Airport in honor of Major Richard I. Bong from Poplar, WI who became America's highest scoring ace of World War II and later died August 6, 1945 piloting P-80A Shooting Star. Today Still in use today as Richard I. Bong Airport with two runways. The first is oriented 21/03 measures 5,100' x 75' surfaced with asphalt. The second runway is oriented 31/13 measures 4,000' x 75' surfaced with asphalt. Airport code: FAA: SUW IATA: SUW. The terminal lobby has a mural depicting P-38 "Marge" with Richard I. Bong and Marge. Nearby is a framed copy of The Evening Telegram headline "Dick Bong, Aerial Ace of Aces Dies in Flaming Jet Plane Crash" August 7, 1945 cover page. References The Evening Telegram "Excitement Intense When P-38 Lands Here" page 1 "Thousands of Superiorites thronged to the Superior Municipal Airport to see Major Richard Ira Bong's silver P-38, after it landed at the airport Wednesday [June 7, 1944] evening." The Evening Telegram "Major Bong Rates City Airport High on Basic Fundamentals" June 10, 1944 page 1 "The Superior Municipal airport ranks very high in the “basic fundamental of any airport,” Major Richard Ira Bong, New Guinea ace told George McDonough, chairman of the citizen council airport committee, and Roy Springer, chairman of the Association of Commerce airport committee, in an interview Friday [June 9, 1944]. “It is close to the city proper, there is a lack of serious surrounding obstructions and the extension possibilities are tremendous,” Major Bong explained." The Evening Telegram "If P-38 Can Land, It will Take Anything" June 10, 1944 page 1 "A possible bright future for the Superior Municipal Airport was seen Saturday after Major Richard Ira Bong, praised the basic structure of the airport in a talk with George McDonough and Roy Springer, airport proponents. Even after the torrential rainfall early in th week, Bong had no trouble landing and taking off his 19,000 pound P-38." The Rhinelander Daily News "Bong Airport" January 19, 1945 page 4 "(Superior Telegram) Thanks to former Mayor Bryn Ostby, Superior has now conferred a most fitting honor upon Major Richard I. Bong by naming the city's airport for America's Ace of Aces. Since the close of Mr. Ostby's administration in 1941, the municipal site has been known as the Bryn Ostby Airport, that name having been given by the city council as recognition for Mr. Ostby's leadership in improving the port. Yesterday, Mr. Ostby announced he would ask the city council to change the name..." City of Superior - Richard I. Bong Memorial Airport official webpage Contribute
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