A Magnificent Officer

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He was 29 years old at the time of his death. He flew with Groupe de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes, a squadron which had inherited the history¹ of the famous Escadrille 3 Les Cigognes (The Storks), the World War I French fighter squadron which the ace Georges Guynemer had helped to make famous.

It was the spring of 1940, the Germans had invaded Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France on the 10th of May and were now charging hard towards the Channel after breaking out of the Ardennes near Sedan.

His name was André Monty, he was a Lieutenant in the Armée de l'Air, the French Air Force. He flew the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406.

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While the aircraft seems rather stumpy, she was popular with her pilots. Though very maneuverable and able to take a lot of punishment, by 1940 the type was outclassed by the Messerschmitt Bf-109E, the fighter which equipped the invading Luftwaffe.

Lt André Monty
GC 1/2 Cigognes

From what I can find, he had some skill as a fighter pilot -

His aerial victories include: a Heinkel He-111 (11/05/1940) in the Ligny-en-Barrois sector, a Junkers Ju-87 (8/06/1940) in the Soissons sector, and another Junkers Ju-87 (08/06/1940) in the Villers-Cotterêts sector. (Source)

His luck ran out on the 8th of June 1940. His squadron was returning from a mission when they spotted nine Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers², Lt. Monty peeled off to attack what he thought was a lone Bf-109. It wasn't alone, while going after the one he was jumped by another Messerschmitt and was downed in aerial combat against two aircraft technically superior to his own.

His aircraft came down in a forest outside the small commune of Longpont in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. He was buried near the wreckage of his M.S.406, which is still there, next to his grave.

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He left behind a wife and a six month old child. It was said of him -

"Sa finesse et sa modestie cachaient une instruction très complète et étendue. Son esprit du devoir faisait de lui un magnifique officier." 

(His finesse and modesty hid a very complete and extensive education. His spirit of duty made him a magnificent officer.)

In that forest outside Longpont, a traveler visited Lt. Monty's gravesite and had this to say -

On the road from Corcy to Longpont we discover an unusual monument. It is the tomb of aviator lieutenant André Monty, shot down on June 8, 1940 during an air combat. That day, at 7:30 p.m., he took off at the controls of his aircraft, a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 No.225. Its Fighter Group is the GC 1/2, better known under the name of "Storks" in reference to the emblem which has adorned its planes since the First World War. The mission of the nine pilots accompanying him is to attack ground targets in the Attigny / Soissons region. Along the way, they encountered a flight of the German Ju-87 Stuka bombers, escorted by Messerschmitt ME 109 fighters. During the ensuing combat, Lieutenant Monty is separated from his group after engaging an ME 109. Another ME 109 then comes to the rescue of his comrade.

It is likely that Lieutenant Monty was killed in his cockpit because he made no attempt to escape from his plane which crashed in the forest near Longpont. He was buried next to the debris from his aircraft, of which the engine, propeller and part of the structure can still be seen.

He had four victories in his record although he piloted an aircraft largely outclassed by the German Messerschmitt His flower-decked grave testifies that his memory remains in the memory of his family and the people of the village.³ (Source)

I trust that we can remember him as well. A warrior of the air, lost in a conflict which for many seems ancient history. Not to me.

Say his name.

Remember...



¹ As near as I can tell from a number of sources.
² The sources aren't clear as to whether the two Ju-87s he downed were before his group's encounter with the nine Ju-87s which led to his death. I would guess that was the case as they were in different sectors of the front. That same source also indicates that he had four aerial victories, but only lists three.
³ The original French can be seen at the source listed.