Burlington - Kansasville, Wisconsin - Bong Recreational Area - Flying High

Once designated to be a jet fighter base, Richard Bong State Recreation Area is named after Maj. Richard I. Bong, a Poplar, Wisconsin, native who was America's leading air ace during World War II. The project was abandoned three days before concrete was to be poured for a 12,500-foot runway. Local citizens had the foresight to protect the 4,537 acres of grassland, wetlands and woodland for future generations. In 1974 the state bought the land and it became the state's first recreation area.

Bong offers an area where visitors may fly hang gliders, ultra-light aircraft, hot air balloons, and model airplanes and rockets. Bong also has spaces to train both hunting and sled dogs, train falcons, ride an ATV trail, go land sailing, horseback riding, and hunt in season. All activities are kept separate from each other through special use zones. [Michael, 09/02/2003]

[RA: Michael also comments: "The highway signs to Richard Bong Recreation Area once just said BONG RECREATION AREA, but have been changed because they were being stolen."]

On the Road Cheese Hypertour, you mentioned wanting to visit the Bong Memorial and you mentioned you didn't know what it was about. Richard Bong was the man credited with shooting down more enemy airplanes than anyone else during World War II. He was a native of Superior Wisconsin, and the local airport is also named the Bong Airport. [Regan Mack, 02/05/2000]

[RA: Bong shot down 40 planes. The memorial includes an inscribed marker. The P-38 that used to be here has been moved to Superior, to yet another Bong Memorial.]