Montegno, Bill
Posted on 15 September, 2021 by in Veterans By Name, M
30 August 2019
Bio is being written by Larry Martin by notes from Bill’s interview in about 2015.
Bill went into the Army Air Corps on 19 April 1942. Was assigned to the 9th Air Force in Europe. He flew B-25s, C-47s and C-46s. Bill dropped the 82nd Airborne into Normandy on D-Day June 6th 1944 at St. Mere Igleas. The following part up to the part that says “I do not remember” is being written from notes today 10 July 2020. Bill was born April 19 1924. He enlisted in the Army on Dec.8th 1941 went into the Air Corps in May of 1943. Bill was in North Africa by the fall of 1943. Basic flight school was in Arcadia Florida about 60 south of Lakeland Fl. Bill stated that the Germans personally welcomed him and his buddies by name to the war. I have interviewed a Tuskegee Airman named Alexander Jefferson P-51 pilot who told me literally the same things about his personal information (The German’s knew what High School that Alexander went to in Detroit Mi.) when he was shot down in August 1944 over France. The Germans knew a terrific amount of the Americans personal information. Bill also told me that he thought the Germans could shoot them down anytime the Germans wanted to. At Normandy Bill was attached to the 29 Squadron 313Troup Carrier Group. Bill was flying over Wellel Germany when he was shot down. He was taking the 17 Airborne into Germany in March of 1945. Bill said there were over 4,000 planes in the air at one time for this mission. 38 paratroopers per C-47 dropping into Zone B-54. I do not remember much of this interview other than Bill was introduced to me by Sue and Curt O’Neil of Zephyrhills Florida who I played tennis with. Curt broke his neck on a motorcycle accident though he mostly recovered. One thing that I do remember about Bill was him telling me that he was deeply hurt by racial names that he was called being Italian. The name I remember is him using the name Dago that he was called by a Major. Bill was nearly in tears during the interview at his home in Zephyrhills Florida in 2015 talking about the racial name.