Richard I. Bong
Second Leave in the United States

In early May 1944, Bong was sent back to the United States, officially to meet General Henry H. Arnold and delivered a report from General George C. Kenney. On May 12, 1944 Bong traveled to Pittsburgh to meet Rosemary Lynch, the widow of Thomas J. Lynch to tell her how her husband died. Afterwards, he returned to Poplar to visit his family and girlfriend Marge. In the United States, he was assigned P-38J "Marge" 44-23491 (Third Marge) for use in war bond tours and for him to fly in the United States.

During June 1944 he attended Aerial and Ground Gunnery School at at Foster Field in Matagorda, Texas as an aerial superiority instructor and attended the course himself to learn the latest air combat and gunnery tactics. In early September 1944 Bong departed for the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

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