Montgomery Orlo A.

Monuments

C-47 42-23638 (crash site)

C-47 42-23638 (town memorial)

Name:

Orlo A. Montgomery

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

17089122

Unit:

14th Troop Carrier Squadron, 61st Troop Carrier Group

Date of Death:

1944-06-21

State:

Colorado

Cemetery:

Normandy American Cemetery, France

Plot:

Tablets of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

SSgt Orlo A. Montgomery, radio operator of the C-47 42-23638, took off from Barkston Heath, Lincolnshire, UK in order to drop parachutists over the Amfreville sector. However, coming over the Cherbourg peninsula, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, injuring Pvt Stout, who later died in the crash. The plane lost its formation in the overcast, dipping down to 700 feet to drop the 18 unwounded paratroopers, after which it turned back to England. But the controls went awry and landed them back over Normandy in the middle of four searchlights and a flak battery. Sustained fire knocked out the left engine and scored two hits on the nose. The pilot gave the order to bail out at 2500 feet. It was 0320. Montgomery’s body was never found. He also has a memorial located in Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA.