Major Richard I. Bong, born in Superior, Wisconsin, was a United States Army Air Forces pilot during World War II. Bong earned a myriad of military awards, most notably the Medal of Honor, and went on to be known as America’s Ace of Aces. His wife Marge was famously pictured on the nose of Bong’s fighter plane, the “Marge.” The aircraft, though a replica of the original, sits at the heart of the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center.
Other accomplishments of Bong’s are on display at the museum, including numerous authentic medals of service. In addition to these are modern exhibits featuring the Vietnam and Korean wars, and even further are junior curators’ exhibits. The curator of collections & exhibits, Briana Fiandt, said, “We pair (middle schoolers) with a veteran, and they interview a veteran, then create a trifold board about that person.” Including these interviews and Fiandt’s efforts, the Bong Museum holds over 800 oral histories of veterans.
The museum also serves as a space for veterans and active-duty families. November is National Veteran and Military Families Month; every November, the museum hosts a Thanksgiving meal, welcoming all military veterans and active-duty families to turkey and fixings. John Gidley, the Richard I. Bong center executive director, said, “We like to promote anything that promotes their wellbeing… Our goal is that no veteran should spend thanksgiving by themselves.” The veterans Thanksgiving meal will take place on November 28, at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center. Meals are even offered via pick-up from the center, an opportunity they stuck with after 2020.
With the help of eager volunteers and staff, the Richard I. Bong Museum honors the legacy of America’s Ace of Aces born in Superior, and serves as an educational hub for military veterans, families, and the public.
