Richard Ira Bong [1920 1945] was a United States Army Air Force major and Medal of Honor recipient during World War II who is credited with 40 aerial victories, becoming the. Highest scoring ace of the United States military. Bong began his military career as a newly commissioned second lieutenant on January 19, 1942. After completing his flight. His first aerial victory on December 27, 1942, and achieved his 40th aerial victory on December 17, 1944. On the recommendation of General George Kenney, the Far East Air Force commander, Bong was awarded the Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur. In January of 1945, Major Bong was sent home where he promoted the sale of war bonds and married his. Bong’s next assignment was as a test pilot for the new jet powered Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. On August 6, 1945, Bong was killed in his P-80 during a test flight at the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California. The display is centered around a very desirable image of Major Bong standing next to his P-38 twin engine fighter looking up at the image of his wife Marge which was painted on the aircraft. The photograph is a quality vintage 10.00 x 8.00 b/w which is signed”Marge Bong Drucker” in black ink. Mounted below is Bong’s autograph which is signed”Richard I. Bong” in black fountain pen on a page. The autograph is bold and displays wonderfully and the page measures 4.50 x 1.75 inches and is in fine condition. The autograph has been authenticated by Beckett Authentication and will be accompanied with the above Letter of Authenticity. Mounted below is a professionally engraved plaque which reads as follows,”Major Richard Ira Bong September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945 – Medal of Honor Recipient – Richard Ira Bong was a United States Army Air Force Major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. Bong was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country’s top flying ace of the war, credited with shooting down forty Japanese aircrafts all while piloting a Lockheed P-38 Lighting fighter. In January of 1945, Bong was sent home where he married his sweetheart Marge and went on to promote the sale of war bonds and was assigned as a test pilot for the new Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter. Tragically on August 6, 1945, Major Richard Bong was killed while testing a P-80 fighter aircraft in Burbank, California”. The above photograph signed by Marjorie Bong Brucker showing Major Richard Bong standing with his P-38 Lighting pointing at the painted photograph of his new bride Marge Bong. The couple marries on February 10, 1945, and settled in California until his death on August 5, 1945. After his death Marge disappeared from public life only to reappear forty years later to help in the fundraising to open the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center. Marjorie Bong Drucker died on September 27, 2003. Also mounted within the display are [reproductions] a pair of United States Air Force. Wings, a pair of U. Insignias, a pair of United States Army Air Force pins and a pair of major rank pins. The display has been professionally assembled and triple matted in all acid free material. The outer matte is a grey/green linen which has been accented with a blue and a black inner matte. The presentation has been completed in a quality ornate silver wood frame to the dimensions of 24.00 x 17.00 inches. The autograph of Richard Bong is exceedingly rare to obtain, this example is bold, and authenticated. The photograph of Bong standing by his aircraft signed by his wife is also quite uncommon, the display is stunning and will be the center of any military collection. The following is a sample of our inventory, Harry Houdini, Marilyn Monroe, George Custer, Elvis Presley, U. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, James Garfield, James Monroe, Erwin Rommel, Robert Oppenheimer, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Ernest Hemingway, Abner Doubleday, Auguste Bartholdi, Buffalo Bill Cody, Walt Whitman, Charles Dickens, Margaret Mitchell, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Alexander Graham Bell, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, George Patton, Gutzon Borglum, Samuel F. Morse, Brigham Young, Wernher von Braun, Lon Chaney Jr, P. Barnum, Apollo Astronaut crews, and many more. Happy collecting from collectors. Our policy is simple, all our autographs are researched and guaranteed authentic with”No” time limits.