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Submit- Full
name
MONTANDON, William G - Date of
birth
31 December 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Los Angeles County, California -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39279041 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 August 1944 - Place of
death
Sinzheim, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 40 | 53 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Rene Jules Montandon (father)
Edel M. (Dessomme) Montandon (mother)
Jean F. Montandon (brother)
Maurice J. Montandon (brother)
Joy Montandon (sister)
Dorothy M. Montandon (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37881 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Leap Year Lady
Destination: Ulm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad
MACR: 8069
More information
The airplane was hit by enemy aircraft and fire broke out after which it exploded.S/Sgt Montandon was wounded at his position but the radio operator said he started for the door right behind him. The radio operator went out first with Montandon next. It is uncertain if he bailed out or not.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Vimbuch, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / California Birth Index, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Gordon Howard Museum, Burbank California - courtesy of Karen Moore