Staff Sergeant

Nemours "Nem" Albert Montz

Waist Gunner / Tail Gunner

546th Bomb Squadron

384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Serial Number: 34290541

Completed tour, Combat Missions credited - 30

Resting Place - Louisiana

Born in Reserve, Louisiana on the 25th October 1918, Nemours "Nem" Albert Montz was one of three children born to Armand and Marie Montz. Montz earned his high school diploma from St. Joseph Boarding School in Covington, Louisiana, and later attended college at Louisiana State University (LSU). 

After graduating from LSU, Montz worked for his family business, A. Montz Co., his family’s ice plant and vegetable packing house. At the time, it was the largest ice factory and packing plant in the southern United States, and the Montz family grew all of the vegetables that were packed. 

In 1941, while working at his family’s ice plant, Montz received his draft notice. At the draft board, he was assigned to the US Army Air Corps (which would later become the US Army Air Force). Montz spoke of this, saying, “I told them I had trouble with my feet, and they said, that’s ok. You just have to fly.” 

Montz was later assigned to the 384th Bomb Group as part of a replacement crew with 2 Lt. John Berbrich (pilot). On 4 October 1943, he was assigned to the 546th Bomb Squadron with the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Montz and his crew later ferried a new aircraft to England before turning it over to the British for modification. 

On 16th November 1943, Montz was promoted to Staff Sergeant.  

S/Sgt. Montz held fighter escorts in high regard, often remarking that the success of the bomber crews was entirely due to their protection. Montz said, “The prettiest sight we ever saw was when the American escort planes came to meet us when we got close to the target. Their job was to protect bombing crews by luring away German fighter planes. They were a big help, but they suffered casualties. Some carried bombs, some machine guns. Many went down. They were young and not afraid of anything. They were daredevils.” 

On the 24th May 1944, S/Sgt. Montz flew his 24th combat mission over Berlin, Germany, targeting military installations. S/Sgt. Montz said, “The anticipation was bad for Berlin. By that time, the war had turned in favour of the Allies and the bombing of the city was to lower German morale. Everyone was worried about Big B; we were afraid there would be a lot of defence around it.” Despite the anticipation, S/Sgt. Montz and his crew on board B-17G #42-97273, Aces & Ates, successfully completed the mission and returned to base. 

Montz went on to fly six more combat missions and completed his tour after flying 30 total combat missions. 

S/Sgt. Montz said of the missions he flew, “Some were easier than others.” Despite often flying in the lead position and enduring heavy flak that damaged their aircraft, Montz and his crew successfully completed each mission without being injured. Montz said of this, “We were just lucky.” 

For his service, S/Sgt. Montz was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

After completing his tour with the 384th Bomb Group, S/Sgt. Montz trained bomber crews at Alexandria Army Air Base in Louisiana. 

On 31st January 1945, Montz married his beloved wife, Shirley Wilton, in a ceremony described by his local newspaper as “one of the loveliest events of the season [that brought together] two of the oldest and most prominent families in La Place, Louisiana.” 

Later in life, they had one daughter and one son. 

Montz continued working in the agricultural industry after the war, returning to his family farming and ice packing business, and he also served on the board of the St. John Parish Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation County Committee. 

In 1969, a year after the death of Montz’s father, he inherited his family’s 541-acre farm and sold it to the Louisiana Department of Highways for $1,190,000, equivalent to $10 million in today’s economy.

On 28 December 2014, Montz was the 106th veteran from the 384th Bomb Group to sign the wing panel for the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association's wing panel project. The wing panel is displayed at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Utah.

Less than two months later, on 10th February 2015, Montz passed away at the age of 96. He is survived by his five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He lies in rest in his home state of Louisiana. 

Research courtesy of Mikayla Leech on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website www.384thbombgroup.com for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of their activities during World War 2.

Further information courtesy of www.newspapers.com