Marty signed my guestbook this week and sent me a couple of emails. Here is what the last one said. I am including the link for the photo he refers to!

Hello!

My grandfather was CHARLES BRYANT or Charlie as

the soldiers called him. He is the one in the center

on the top row of the H & S COMPANY 2833 rd Combat

Engineers, 4th Platoon. He was one of two sons from a

poor family of farmers in Russell Springs, KY.

I am also the great nephew by marriage of KISLE

MONROE from LAWRENCEBURG, KY. He was an engineer in

the 540th as well. I would love to write and tell you

more. Is this the format or do I need to go another

route. I do have some photos of him and the guys. I

am also inheriting his army locker and I have no idea

what is in it.

Marty

2833rd Battalion - 4th Platoon

The Aerial Capture of Pantelleria and Lampedusa

More for you Colin!

Alfred Kincer III

Many of you are already familiar with Al Kincer, 48th Combat Engineer, who has made many wonderful contributions to his page on this site.

This is in honor of his son who died in Viet Nam.

Here's an EXCELLENT article by a professor named Michael Moore. This was shared with my by my vet friend, Dave Wagner.

The bloody, forgotten war in Italy

John Joseph Lynch jr., an American from Alhambra, California, joined the RAF in July 1941 as a Pilot Officer.

In 1943 while CO of the RAF 249th Fighter Squadron (Spitfires) stationed on Malta, now Squadron Leader Lynch won an RAF sweepstake prize of 129 pounds sterling by shooting down the 100th enemy airplane (a German Ju-52 transport off the coast of Sicily) by a Malta based RAF Pilot. The sweepstake prize was put up by contributions from RAF personnel stationed on Malta.

The 249th was originally formed as a Spitfire squadron in May 1940, then participated in the Battle of Britain as a Hurricane squadron, subsequently switching back to Spitfires in 1942 when it was assigned to Malta -- thereafter participating in the Italian and Yugoslavian campaigns.

Originally assigned to the 71st RAF Eagle (American Volunteer) Squadron, S/L Lynch is listed as both a British and American WW2 Ace with 13 recorded kills (1 with the 71st). He was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

WW2 (Malta) Biography of John J. Lynch including photographs