Bong's Final P-38 Lightning

[DarrenW]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has a wartime photo of Richard Bong's final p-38 Lightning? I am looking for one that specifically shows his 40 aerial victory flags painted on the nose. Does a photo like that even exist? There are some really great ones of Major Bong and "Marge" but I have yet to find one that is showing his final tally. I look forward to seeing what you gents have out there....

 

[le_steph40]

Hello Darren,
I don't know if exists a wartime photo with 40 victories markings. I know P-38L-1-LO SN44-23964 "yellow 42" flown during October & November 1944 to claim victory 29, 30 & 34, 35, 36.

HTH, regards
Stéph

 

[Wayne Little]

Don't recall that either....

 

[DarrenW]

Wow Stéph those are some very cool pictures! Thanks for posting them. I've only seen his aircraft with less than 30 victory flags. If I don't find any other it will definitely do!

 

[Barrett]

There's a caption with full IDs of the middle pic. The ones I recognize: from the left:
3. Jerry Johnson
7. Tommy Lynch
8. Maybe Bob Dehaven (sister Gloria was a well regarded actress.)

 

[le_steph40]

There's a caption with full IDs of the middle pic. The ones I recognize: from the left:
3. Jerry Johnson
7. Tommy Lynch
8. Maybe Bob Dehaven (sister Gloria was a well regarded actress.)

Tom Lynch was killed 8 March 1944 strafing barges in Aitape harbor... 7 is Tom McGuire

 

[DarrenW]

I happened to stumble onto this video clip which looks to be of Bong's P-38 carrying 40 victory markings (my logic thinks so anyway, as there seems to be eight columns of five flags). It starts around 0:46......


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKvJgFldgGA


Not as nice as Stéph's photos though, and the clip may just be of an ordinary P-38 never flown by Bong but used by the newsreel agency for publicity reasons. Happened before. Can anyone make out the entire serial number?

 

[le_steph40]

Hi Darren,
IMHO is P-38J SN 44-23481 or 44-23491, another P-38 named "Marge" but apparently initially flown during summer 1944 and without any victory marking at this time. He may have recovered this plane after his last victory 17 December 1944 and decided to show his scoreboard for propaganda...? Or 44-23481 was flown during summer 1944 and 44-23491 flown after 17 December 1944 in USA and used to promote the sale of war bonds...

 

[DarrenW]

Thank again Stéph, that's more details than I thought I'd find out regarding the clip. I appreciate it.

 

[daveT]

I think one of Bong's P-38s was in a museum. Anybody know where, have a picture of it?

 

[fubar57]

Not his aircraft but in his markings 1945 Lockheed P-38L Lightning - N3800L