The Poplar native dubbed the plane “Marge” after his girlfriend, Marge Vattendahl, who he later married. “To be the first family members to actually be at the crash site of that airplane and touching it was kind of surreal,” Bong said. Jim Bong at the crash site of P-38J “Marge” assigned to his uncle, Richard I. Bong on June 23, 2026. Joel Carillet/Pacific WrecksOn June 23, Fiandt said the group set out early on the hot and humid, 8-mile round trip to the crash site. Wisconsin Air National Guard officers carry the P-38J “Marge” wingtip aboard U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker on July 12, 2026.