TOM WALSH wrote:
Major Gerald Emerson "Monty" Montgomery, flew a P-51D Mustang "Sizzlin Liz" Serial No. 44-14119, with the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF. Montgomery destroyed 17.5 Luftwaffe aircraft (3 aerial and 14.50 ground.)
Those who hailed from the State of Texas and who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in World War II were automatically known as “Tex". Such was not the case of a twenty year old college student from Star Route No. 2, Littlefield, Texas. Gerald Emerson Montgomery had the same last name as the then popular British General - Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery. Sharing that famous surname, meant equally sharing his universally applied nickname "Monty". The young Texan wanted to join the war effort as a fighter pilot, but in June, 1941, he was rejected by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) as his eyesight was not perfect.
Traveling 1,100 miles from his home to Canada, Montgomery voluntarily enlisted in the RCAF at No. 8 Recruiting Centre in Windsor, Ontario on Friday, August 8, 1941. His rank was Aircraftsman 2nd Class (AC2) Airman, his assigned Service No. was R.109984 and his starting pay was $33.00 per month. The RCAF interviewing Officer, Flying Officer (FO) W. D. Stroud, noted in his report; "A good average type. Some advanced education. Courteous, straightforward and intelligent. Keen on soldiering and has two friends who are currently serving in the RCAF. With training he should become good pilot material".
From my forthcoming book "American RCAF Warriors" Volume II.
Cheers,
Tom Walsh.
And Montgomery's Mustang has already been the subject of another P-51D restoration. Dave Marco's 44-74458 N351DM which was rebuilt by Glenn Wgman and re-flown as that particular "Sizzlin Liz" in 1991.
http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74458T J