The Ace of Aces, Richard I. Bong is a name we often hear in the Twin Ports. He was a decorated solider, husband and aviation enthusiast on top of being a hero.

His sister, Jerry, recalls the moments that Richard would spend building wood airplane models and learning about the way they work. “The minute he saw a plane that was it,” said Jerry. Growing up on a farm in Poplar, Wisconsin it’s said that Bong would watch the mail planes fly over to President Coolidge’s summer White House.

Bong was just 20 years old when he enlisted into the U.S. Army Corps in 1941. During his four years in the service, he became America’s top Ace, a title that still stands today. Bong endured three military tours with 207 combat missions.

During this time, his girlfriend Marge patiently awaited his return. That came in 1945 after being awarded the Medal of Honor a year prior. On February 10th of 1945 Marge became Mrs. Bong. They were married at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Superior.

Just six months into their marriage, Richard I. Bong passed away at the age of 24. On the same day the Hiroshima bomb was dropped he died while piloting a P-80 Shooting Star Jet over California. He was a hero, instead of ejecting and saving himself Bong maneuvered the plane out of a residential area where it crashed killing him.

Today, we honor Richard Bong here in the Northland and far beyond. There is even a Richard Bong bridge in Australia that commemorates his sacrifices.