This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Montgomery, Alfred Eugene, VADM USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Seattle, WA
Date of Passing Dec 15, 1961
Location of Interment Holyrood Catholic Cemetery - Shoreline, Washington
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section M, Lot 634, Site 1
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
MONTGOMERY, ALFRED E.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Alfred E. Montgomery, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Officer in Tactical Command of a U.S. Navy Carrier Task Group, in action against enemy Japanese forces near Saipan on 21 February 1944. Rear Admiral Montgomery maneuvered his group in an excellent manner when attacked by enemy torpedo and bombing planes. Eight Japanese planes were destroyed at night by screen ships' gunfire and nine more were destroyed by ship's gunfire and combat air patrol the following morning. In the face of these determined attached Rear Admiral Montgomery launched aircraft from his carriers and they delivered repeated attacks on shipping, aircraft and shore installations on and in the vicinity of Saipan. This action and retirement were completed without damage to the ships of his task group. Rear Admiral Montgomery's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 331 (October 1944)
Born: June 12, 1891 at Omaha, Nebraska
Home Town: Piedmont, California
Other Comments:
VADM Montgomery was one of only 5 survivors of the sinking ot USS F-1 (SS-20) in 1917.
If anyone has any photos or other information on VADM Montgomery please contact me.
Leyte Campaign (1944)/Battle of Leyte Gulf
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the Battles for Leyte Gulf, and formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.
It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from 23–26 October 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.
It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.
