By December 1944, Major Bong increased his official air-to-air victory total to 40. Upon the recommendation of Far East Air Force commander General George Kenney, Bong received the Congressional Medal of Honor from General Douglas MacArthur.
Marge
Captain Richard Bong affixed the college graduation photo of his sweetheart to the nose of his aircraft, which affectionately became known around the world as the P-38 “Marge.” Bong later told her she was “the most shot-after girl in the South Pacific.”