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 by Marge Bong Drucker Drucker Publications 1995 Softcover 111 pages photos ISBN: 978-0964784000 Language: English  Order now at amazon.com Return to |
Memories The Story of Dick and Marge Bong (Major Richard Bong, America's All-time Fighter Ace) A Love Story This is the autobiography of Marge Bong Drucker who was the girlfriend of Major Richard I. Bong and made famous in early 1944 when he nicknamed his P-38 Lightning "Marge" and put her graduation photo on the nose. Marjorie Ann Vattendahl was born 25 Oct 1923 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. At a young age, her family moved to Superior, Wisconsin. Nicknamed "Marge", she met Bong while a student at Superior Teachers College and the couple began dating. in early 1944 she became known to the world after Bong put an enlargement of her college graduation photo on the nose of his fighter plane, P-38J "Marge" 42-103993 in New Guinea. The nickname and nose art were photographed and appeared in newspaper articles across the nation. When Bong returned to the United States after his third tour of duty, the couple were married on February 10, 1945 in Superior, Wisconsin and became celebrities from countless news articles and photographs of the couple. Tragically, Bong died in a plane crash six months later leaving her a widow. Later, she remarried twice. Marge passed away widow passed away September 27, 2003 at age 79. Writing about Bong's P-38 Lightnings nicknamed "Marge" she wrote: “Actually there were three “Marge” planes [The first, P-38J "Marge" 42-103993 and second P-38J "Marge" 42-104380 in New Guinea. The third P-38J "Marge" 44-23491 in the United States.] The first [P-38J "Marge" 42-103993] was lost due to mechanical trouble, piloted by Lt. Tom Malone when Dick was in Brisbane, Australia. It was to be a weather reconnaissance flight over New Guinea and Malone soon found himself in trouble when he couldn't get above the weather at 30,000 feet. The radio failed; the electrical system and the left engine were lost. He bailed out at 11,000 feet and thankfully was rescued.” “I learned about it [Bong's P-38J "Marge" 42-103993] in the newspapers before I heard about it from him. He must have really had second thoughts about what he had done for it caused a sensation in the media. It was some time later that I received a letter from him telling me what he had done. “...Honey chile, do you know what I have done…It looks swell and everybody around here has been taking pictures of it. I hope you don’t mind having your picture on my plane. You’re the most ‘shot-after’ girl in the South Pacific.” Review by Justin Taylan Return to Book Reviews | Add a review or submit for review Last Updated |
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