Richard Bong P-38 picture question

Does anyone know the story behind this Life Magazine picture of Bong and a P-38, painted with noseart as " Marge " ?  I don't think it is the real one  ( 42-103993 )  Could it be a stateside plane with noseart added for something like a War Bond Tour ?
 
1.  " Marge " is in an Old-West block type font.  On other pics of the aircraft, it is in a "handwriting " script.
2. No kill markings.
3. No A/C number on nose.
4. No red paint on nose tip.
5. Prop spinner tips do not appear to be painted red. ( Behind props may be painted )
 

According to the book Aces High by Bill Yenne the P-38 in your photo was created by the Fifth Air Force public affairs staff specifically for a photo shoot. Appears to have been in Port Moresby in April 1944. Original Marge 42-103993 had been lost on a weather recon flight while being flown by Lt Tom Malone on March 24, 1944. All this per pages 180 and 190 of the above book.
Hal

In my Book Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story by Carl Bong ,
There were 2 P-38s used for Publicity Photos while He was
in the U.S. on Bond Tours.
These 2 P-38s were specially Marked and there are Photos
of Him with Each. 1 Has Photo of Marge and her name in
Block Letters only, the other with Kill Markings only.
The One with Kill Markings was Serial # 44 - 23461. Can't see  Serial # on the one with Marge.
I've always been a Fan of Dick Bong and am fortunate to have
a Signed P-38 Photo as Major Dick Bong.
There is a Dick Bong Museum in Poplar , WI.
Mike  

Thanks Hal and Mike.  I colorized the picture I have above, and to be sure of the caption I put on it .... this A/C was one overseas in a 5th AF publicity shoot ? NOT the one with block lettered "Marge" and no kill markings in the US Bond Tour ?  Just want to make sure my description is correct.
 
http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/SHAEF1944/WWII_ColorizedBySHAEF/

I don't believe there were any concrete runways/parking areas in New Guinea.  I do know Charters Towers, in Queensland, Australia  did have concrete runways.  My bet would be a stateside shot. Our resident 3rd BG guru Jack Heyn would be a good guy to ask, so I'll give him a call for his input.
 
 
Bill
 
 

The P-38 that was in Poplar, Wisconsin, was restored several years ago and now is on display at the Richard I Bong Veteran's Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin.  The web site is:  http://www.bvhcenter.org/
Worth checking out.
 
Roy

SHAEF1944,
As far as a caption is concerned I may have made an overambitious assumption in my earlier post.  While the book does say what I posted as far as the 5th AF public affairs staff making up a Marge replica for a photo shoot the book does not include a photograph of that aircraft.  I, perhaps foolishly, assumed that they were describing your photo.  And while that chapter and that particular page were about April 1944 and events in Port Moresby it does not specifically say that the photo shoot actually took place at that location.  In light of the postings by Mike and Bill I felt that I should clarify this before my assumptions took on the appearance of fact by being included in your caption.  I apologize to all.  Perhaps if Mike could scan and post the photos from his book it might nail this down a little better.
Hal

Hal , Shaef
Unfortunately I don't have a Scanner.
Did more checking in Book. The P-38 with just Picture of
Marge and her Name in Block Letters was # 44 - 23491.
In Photos , They are on Large Concrete Parking Area and
Photos are attributed to Lockheed.
Just a FYI - While Dick Bong was on Leave Mid 1944 ,
Charles Lindbergh flew Combat Missions in 
# 42 - 103993 " Marge ". 
Mike

Guys..
 
   Had a brief phone call with Jack last night.  The only runway he recalls with any type of pavement was at Lae.  It appeared to be an asphalt type material.  
 
   Bill

P-38J-20-LO 44-23491  scrapped at Gardner Field, Calif 17 Feb 1945
 
Terence

Thanks fellas.  For now, I have the colorized pic captioned as the plane made up by 5th AF Public Affairs, with no mention of location.  I am leaning now towards this being a stateside pic, as Mike mentions the pictures taken on a "large concrete parking area", and Bill says no "paved runways", except at Lae, with asphalt ..... and the pic above has expansion joints in the ground area, indicating a concrete area, not asphalt. If we can nail down location with reasonable certainty I will edit the pic caption. The "Life" picture credit imprinted does not necessarily mean the picture was taken by or for Life Magazine, it could well be a Lockheed  photo that was passed on to Life for a publicity article.
Only thing I'm thinking now is..... maybe I should colorize a picture of Bong with the REAL Marge;  I picked this one originally because I found a good crisp digital copy of it on the 'net, and that makes 'em easier to color.  If I can find a good clear one of Marge and Bong, I may do it instead or in addition to this one.