Poplar Wisconsin produced one of the best fighter pilots in U.S. History. Richard Bong became known as the Ace of All Aces after he shot down 40 Japanese airplanes. While he cemented his place in history as an American hero, his life came to a tragic end shortly before the end of the war. Tune in to learn more about the history of Richard Bong.

Let us know what other Wisconsin Heroes we should cover! Contact us on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter or send an email to badgerlandjournal@gmail.com

Sources:

“Bong Given Promotion; Now Major.” Leader-Telegram. April 15, 1944.

“Bong Hunts in South Dakota.” Leader-Telegram. January 20, 1945.

“Bong, Bride Honeymooning.” The La Crosse Tribune, February 12, 1945.

Clements, Olen W. “Maj. Bong Grounded Indefinitely; Wants to Keep up Combat Flying.” The La Crosse Tribune, April 15, 1944.

Lauritsen, John. “Explorers Find What They Believe Is Richard Bong’s Downed Plane in Jungle Ravine.” CBS News, May 24, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/explorers-find-what-they-believe-is-richard-bongs-downed-plane-in-jungle-ravine/.

“Leaving Bong Alone.” Monroe Evening Times, January 12, 1945.

“Maj. Bong Insurance Pay Cancelled Due to Jet Plane Flight.” The La Crosse Tribune, August 2, 1946.

“Major Bong Dies in Jet Plane Crash.” The La Crosse Tribune, August 7, 1945.

Malloryk. “Major Richard Bong’s Medal of Honor.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, June 13, 2021. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/richard-bong-medal-of-honor.

“Marjorie Bong Is Wed in Hollywood.” Janesville Daily Gazette, October 31, 1946.

Miller, Jane. “Air Situation Changed.” Leader-Telegram. November 17, 1943.

“Mrs. Bong Given Many Job Offers.” Waukesha Daily Freeman, March 18, 1946.

“Richard Bong.” Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/richardbong.

“Richard Ira Bong.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2324.

“Who Is Richard Bong?” Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, May 28, 2024. https://bongcenter.org/about/who-is-major-richard-i-bong/.

The Shipwreck of the Trinidad was discovered by the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association last year and was recently placed on the Historic Register by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Today we are going to discuss the history Wisconsin's recently discovered shipwrecks.

Make sure to let us know your favorite Great Lakes shipwreck! Check us out on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter or send an email to badgerlandjournal@gmail.com

Sources:

Clough, Christopher. “This Lake Michigan ‘Time Capsule’ Shipwreck Is Now on the Wisconsin Historic Register.” Green Bay Press-Gazette, March 8, 2024. https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2024/03/08/time-capsule-great-lakes-shipwreck-joins-wisconsin-historic-register/72888209007/.

Great Lake Shipwreck Research. “Wisconsin’s Newest Shipwreck Revealed - August 2023.” YouTube, September 1, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuBcog1W7jM.

Hernandez, Joe. “Shipwreck Hunters Discover a Schooner’s 142-Year-Old Remains in Lake Michigan.” NPR, September 4, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/04/1197480909/shipwreck-trinidad-found-lake-michigan-wisconsin.

Suliman, Adela. “Intact 1881 ‘Trinidad’ Shipwreck Found in Wisconsin Waters by Historians.” Washington Post, September 2, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/02/trinidad-schooner-shipwreck-maritime/.

“Trinidad.” Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Accessed May 27, 2024. https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/617.

Mildred Fish-Harnack was the only American women to be executed on Hitler's direct orders. She was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin and was a professor at UW-Madison before moving to Germany with her husband Arvid Harnack. When the Nazis rose to power Mildred, Arvid and their friends began to work against the authoritarian government even though it would eventually cost them their lives. Tune in to learn more about this remarkably courageous women.

Let us know who your favorite guest has been on Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, or send an email to badgerlandjournal@gmail.com

Sources:

Brysac, Shareen Blair. “When the Red Orchestra Fell Silent.” The New York Times, February 15, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/opinion/global/when-the-red-orchestra-fell-silent.html.

Cottrell, Chris. “American Resistance Member Is Honored in Berlin.” The New York Times, September 21, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/world/europe/american-resistance-member-is-honored-in-berlin.html.

Higgins, Jim. “Gripping Biography Details How Milwaukee’s Mildred Harnack Led Resistance to Hitler While Living in Berlin.” Journal Sentinel, September 2, 2021. https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/08/18/book-details-how-milwaukees-mildred-harnack-led-resistance-hitler-biography/5559514001/.

“Mildred Fish-Harnack.” Wisconsin Women Making History, February 14, 2024. https://womeninwisconsin.org/profile/mildred-fish-harnack/.

“Mildred Fish-Harnack: Germany’s Secret Hero – Wisconsin Biographies.” PBS Wisconsin Education, May 6, 2024. https://pbswisconsineducation.org/bio/mildred-fish-harnack/.