| Cecil Robert Montgomery was the eldest son of John and Mary Eleanor Montgomery. John Montgomery and Mary Betty were married on the 23rd October 1911 in the district of Dungannon.
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| Cecil Robert Montgomery was born on 12th February 1914. He was the eldest of three known children, all born in Brookeborough area.
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| Known family: John Montgomery, Mary Eleanor Montgomery, Cecil Robert Montgomery (born 12th February 1914), William Montgomery (born 26th August 1915, John Montgomery (born 18th September 1917).
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| Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery served in the Royal Air Force during World War Two.
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| In June 1939, Montgomery joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission.
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| He began pilot training on 12th June 1939 at No. 22 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School in Cambridge.
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| On 5th August 1939, he became an Acting Pilot Officer. He moved to No. 2 Flying Training School at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire on 21st August 1939. He completed training on 17th February 1940.
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| His name featured in the London Gazette on 26th March 1940, having received his wings on 24th February 1940. He joined the Group Pool at Aston Down, Gloucestershire and converted to Hawker Hurricanes.
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| On 14th May 1940, he joined RAF 615 Squadron. They were in France at the time but returned to RAF Kenley, Surrey by 21st May 1940.
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| On 14th August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, 615 Squadron flew to RAF Hawkinge, Kent. Twelve Hawker Hurricanes were to intercept a Luftwaffe raid over Dover. Flying Officer Peter Collard led Red Section with Montgomery and Pilot Officer SJ Madle. Madle detached to fly beneath cloud cover due to an oxygen failure. He was the only survivor as both Collard and Montgomery’s planes went down.
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| Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery was shot down his Hawker Hurricane P3160 at 1250hrs on 14th August 1940. The plane went down over the English Channel near Dover, Kent.
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| Pilot Officer Montgomery’s body washed ashore in France.
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| Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery is buried in Oye-Plage Communal Cemetery, near Calais in France along with his colleague that day, Peter Collard.
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| The following is taken from the Northern Ireland Will Calendar Index 1858–1965: Montgomery, Cecil Robert, of Tullykenneye, County Fermanagh pilot officer RAF. Died 14th August 1940 in action. Tullykenneye lies midway between Fivemiletown and Brookeborough.
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| Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery is commemorated locally on Fivemiletown War Memorial.
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| A small housing development now stands in the grounds of Kenley Airfield. The seven roads in the development bear the names of men from Kenley who gave their lives during the Battle of Britain. Montgomery Way is one of these roads.
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| The CWGC record Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery as the son of John and Mary Eleanor Montgomery of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.
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| Pilot Officer Cecil Robert Montgomery is listed on page 95 of the Fivemiletown book, from which these details come from. Many thanks to Mark Byers for the information.
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