Kenneth Barbour Montgomery
| Kenneth Barbour Montgomery | |
|---|---|
| Born |
22 October 1897 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | c.1915–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Cheshire Regiment No. 45 Squadron RFC No. 66 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front • Italian Front |
| Awards |
Military Cross Croce di Guerra (Italy) |
Captain Kenneth Barbour Montgomery MC was an English World War I flying ace officially credited with 12 aerial victories. After gaining his first four wins flying a two-seater aircraft, he switched to a single-seater fighter for his last eight triumphs.
Montgomery served as a sergeant in the Officers' Training Corps at Rugby School in 1913. He enlisted into the army, initially serving in the Cheshire Regiment, before joining the Royal Flying Corps. On 1 February 1917 he was posted to the Officer Cadet Wing at Denham Aerodrome, and on 2 March began his flight training at the No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford, before being sent to No. 48 Reserve Squadron. On 29 May he was posted to No. 81 Training Squadron, and was appointed a flying officer with the rank of temporary second lieutenant (on probation).
He joined No. 45 Squadron as a Sopwith 1½ Strutter pilot, and was confirmed in his rank on 13 July, the same day he gained his first aerial victory, by driving a German Albatros D.III fighter aircraft down out of control near Polygon Wood. By 23 August, he had driven down his fourth enemy aircraft using the 1½ Strutter. He then switched to a single-seat Sopwith Camel, with which he drove down his fifth victim on 20 September 1917, and thus became an ace. He would score regularly throughout the rest of the year, sharing a triumph with future Air Vice Marshal Matthew Frew on 26 October. Montgomery racked up his tenth out of control win on 15 November 1917 over Langemarck, Belgium.
Soon afterwards his squadron was transferred to the Italian Front, where on 2 January 1918 Montgomery was appointed a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain. The following day, he scored his final win with No. 45 Squadron, driving down another Albatros D.III. Montgomery then transferred to No. 66 Squadron; he scored his twelfth win with them on 12 January 1918, driving down an Albatros D.V southeast of Fonzaso, Italy. Montgomery was awarded the Military Cross for his exploits on 3 February 1918.
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