Richard Lee Monfort
2nd Lt 0-687890 615th
Colorado
1923 - 1944
Navigator aboard 42-38012
Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley, Colorado, USA.
Block 14, Lot 50, Space 008
Richard was born Jan 11, 1923, Greeley, Weld, Colorado.
He attendent the Colorado state College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
He enlisted to the air corps.
In 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG
His last mission, Jan 29, 1944, Target: Frankfurt, the plane was attacked by enemy fighters.
On the return flight the plane was hit by a rocket of a ME 110 , German fighter.
Unfortunately, although Richard bailed out, he was killed
He was awarded with an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Medal
In 1944, when Richard died on the age of 21 he left behind his family :
His father, Warren H Monfort, age 49
His mother, Edith Monfort, age 50
His sister, Marjorie Monfort, age 22
His brother, Kenneth Monfort, age 14
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Mission to Frankfurt, germany, on the return flight the plane was hit by a rocket of a ME 110 , German fighter.
Individual casualty questionaire
Told by Donald Lamb , Ball Turret Gunner.
- Name of crew member : Monfort , Richard Lee.
- Rank : 2nd Lt.
- Serial number : 0-687890
- Position : Navigator.
- Did he bail out ? : Yes.
- Where was he last seen ? : The last time I saw Monfort alive was prior to take-off at station 128, England.
- Any explanation of his fate ? :
After I have been released from the German Prisoner of War Camp , I talked to the Bombardier in
La Havre, France, who told me that when the ship was hit by a rocket of a ME 110, he was firing the
chin turret and was knocked back against the Navigator.
The Bombardier further told me that the Navigator ( Monfort ) bailed out of the ship ahead of him and
that the Germans were still firing on the ship at that time.
Co-pilot Woods told me in France that when he was captured by the Germans
they described two (2) bodies which were found by them ( Germans ) and believed to have been the
Navigator and the Radio Operator.
The Germans told the crew member that the parachute attached to one body had opened completely
but did not save the airman's life. The Germans further stated that the rip cord of the parachute
attached to the second man had not been pulled.
This man was believed to have been the Navigator.
Mitchell Kenneth Woods :
I delayed my jump 20,000 Ft and landed near Worms, Germany where I was captured. Next morning I was
driven to the outskirts of Rheinhess where two air crew members had landed. I was refused permission to make
any indentification from the discription of the bodies , I thought them to be R.L Monfort and J.J. Glonek.
Escape kits and two G.I. watches were shown to me. This seemed to confirm my supposition as both of these men
were issued watches. A large navigator's map was also shown to me. This map had our mission's target.
Later, the Bombardier informed me that the Nav.map was missing, when he bailed out.
- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 2
- Date and destinations if possible ? : Jan 5, 1944 Tours, France
Jan 21, 1944 Notre Dame de Ferme
Jan 29, 1944 Frankfurt on Main
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Richard is a 1939 graduate of the Colorado state College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at Fort
Collins
In 1940 Richard had a price winnig steer, the Grand Champion of the 1940 Colorado State Fair
Richard married Miss Viola Swanson Apr 1943 in Houston TX.
He recieved his primary training at Ellington Field TX
At Hondo Field TX Richard recieved his second Lieutenant's commission.
Later he recieved training as a Flying Fortress navigator at Kearney, Neb.
The Monfort family is producing beef and won a couple of awards.
Photo (l-r) His father, Warren - His mother Mrs Warren - Grandma Monfort
Mrs Viola Monfort ( wife of Robert ) and his brother Kenneth Monfort
In a letter that Richard wrote he said : We have a front row seat for the big show and from what
General Jimmy Doolittle say's we have a lot of work to do before things start.
Every possible chance we get, we will be out tearing at the enemy.
I am in one of the best squadrons here
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