World War II Fighter Wreck of America's Top Ace Recovered in Papua New Guinea

John Mayers
Jul 21
1 min read

The provided link contains a press release regarding a major aviation archaeology recovery from July 2026. Here is the summary:

"Marge" Returns Home

A team from the nonprofit organization Pacific Wrecks successfully recovered one of the most famous aircraft wrecks of World War II from the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea.

The artifact is the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter plane assigned to Major Richard I. Bong, America's all-time top flying Ace who is credited with 40 confirmed aerial victories. Bong famously named the aircraft "Marge" after his then-girlfriend (and later wife), Marjorie Vattendahl.

Key Details of the Operation:

The Collaboration: The recovery was led by Pacific Wrecks in partnership with the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center and the Wisconsin Air National Guard, with diplomatic assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby.
Repatriation: The Wisconsin Air National Guard utilized a KC-135 Stratotanker military transport aircraft to fly the team and the historic P-38 wreckage back to United States soil.
Public Debut & Permanent Home: The recovered fighter plane is being transported to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to be honored and showcased at EAA AirVenture, the world's largest airshow. Following the event, it will find its permanent home as a center-piece exhibit at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin.