Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center (Bong P-38 Fund)
305 Harbor View Parkway
Superior, Wisconsin 54880
Tel: +1 (715) 392-7151
The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, previously known as the Richard I. Bong Heritage Center or Richard I. Bong WWII Heritage Center (Bong P-38 Fund Incorporated) honors the memory of Major Richard I. Bong and all the men and women of World
War II who contributed to winning the peace. Bong's widow, Marjorie "Marge" Drucker was instrumental in helping to promote and fund raise to support the museum until she passed away in 2003.
The centerpiece of the museum is P-38J Lightning 44-53236 painted in the markings of Bong's famous P-38J "Marge" 42-103993 flown during his second tour of duty in New Guinea. Second floor exhibits cover the life and legacy of Bong including his World War II service as a fighter pilot in the South West Pacific Area and includes his awards including Bong's Medal of Honor bestowed by General Douglas MacArthur on December 12, 1944 in the Philippines. Postwar, the Medal of Honor was displayed at the Bong Memorial Room in his hometown of Poplar where the blue ribbon became faded from decades of public display.
The Historical Center
is an educational resource that records local veteran military service and perpetuates their ideals for generations to come. The museum
takes visitors through the story of America's involvement in World War II, prewar life in America, the role of the Superior, Wisconsin industry and shipbuilding during the war and displays related to local veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam and conflicts to the present day.
P-38L Lightning 44-53236
Displayed at in the markings of P-38J "Marge" 42-103993 assigned to Richard I Bong during his second tour of duty in New Guinea.
References
Richard
I. Bong Veterans Historical Center official website
Richard I. Bong WWII Heritage Center previous website via Wayback Machine September 30, 2007
Richard I. Bong Veterans Heritage Center previous website via Wayback Machine October 13, 2017
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