Could anyone tell me the name of the pilot who crashed Spad B4628 on the Italian front on Feb. 22, 1918?
I am looking to ID a photograph.

Forget SPAD and try Camel. B4628 of 66 Sqn was LIA on 22.2.1918 with Capt KB Montgomery a wounded POW. I'm sure you'll find more detail in Ray Sturtivant's Camel File and Trevor Henshaw's The Sky Their Battlefield.

Nothing to add in "The Sky . . . . " I'm afraid.

Here is the photograph. The reverse has a lengthy message and is signed by the Deputy Commander of the Flak battery that downed Montgomery offering details of the event and congratulations to the Group Commander.

aeroraider,

The first of five patrols that day. The O.R.B. has the following information. The patrol consisted of the following flying Sopwith Camels, they departed the aerodrome at 06.30, I have included their return times against each pilot

22/02/1918 Bomb Raid
B4628 Capt. K.B Montgomery
B2377 Lt F.S. Symondson (7.10)
B5623 Lt H.R. Eycott-Martin (6.35)
B6413 2/Lt A.E. Rudge (7.10)
B6424 2/Lt C McEvoy (7.10)


"Deputy leader Lt. Eycott-Martin returned with engine trouble. Capt. K. B. Montgomery was shot down by M.G. fire from the ground from 300ft. at (map ref) 39.L.2809 and seen to crash. Raid was then abandoned. No E.A. seen. A.A. fire above normal and much M.G. fire from the ground. Visibility poor. Weather fair".

I am afraid that is the only information I have on the incident.

Regards

john_g

www.66squadron.co.uk

aeroraider,

The only other piece of information I can add is that he was wounded.

Regards,

Trevor

He apparently went on to escape from the prison camp he was held in and returned to active service.

Aeroraider,

Can I ask where you got that photograph from? K B Montgomery is my father's Godfather and we've started trying to find out a bit more about his time with the Royal Air Force.

He ended up with the Military Cross and the Croce de Guerra from the Italians. He was shot down and taken prisoner and spent a long while in hospital recovering. We have the diary he kept during his time in hospital. His injuries were pretty serious - one leg was a bit shorter than the other afterwards.

Thanks for posting it, it's fascinating to see the last plane he flew in.

Tom

P.S. Just checked again, K B Montgomery didn't escape as such, the Austrian Government fell and the guards left the camp so all the prisoners just walked out. According to his diary he was back home in six days!

He wasn't able to go back to active service due to his wounds, he went on to be cattle feed merchant in Cheshire.

Regards,

Tom