Major Richard Bong & Major Thomas McGuire ...

[tom d. friedman]

I've always felt that the military/USAF has not properly honored Richard Bong. There definitely needs to be an Active (not almost) base named in his honor...

I agree, but I don't think that BONG AIR FORCE BASE would fly today w/ air force brass considering today's drug culture, lol!!

[CraigQ]

There are plenty of USAF bases that aren't' named after a person and simply carry the name of the local town (i.e. Little Rock AFB) that could be renamed in his honor. Even the airfield portion of the base could be named for him...

Little Rock AFB is in Jacksonville AR.

While realizing the base was named after the largest local town at the time (& state capitol), it could easily been named after Arkansas native (Ft.Smith), UofA graduate and 4th FG ace Pierce McKennon since the base was a post WW2 creation.

[JimH]

Last year during our tour stop in Superior I ran down to Poplar to visit Bong's grave. I did some image "googleing" and did some then and now shots. This was one of them...



and his grave...very peaceful place



The Bong family visited us at Bong Airport, including his sister, which was really special. On the way south, by request I flew over the Bong farm, unfortunately the photos are on my other phone. Great family, and really genuine people.

Jim

[therealJR]

I have a needle movement recovered from his P-80 accident site. One of the AAC investigators working the crash passed it on to me.

[Scott Rose]

The images have been restored to this thread.