Comments on: Seems like not images of Barga from the air http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/10/29/seems-like-not-images-of-barga-from-the-air/ busily putting barga on the map Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:24:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Editor http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/10/29/seems-like-not-images-of-barga-from-the-air/#comment-2055 The Editor Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0000 http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=12832#comment-2055 <img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/d1/21/75ab90b809a049638e186110.L._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="The Invisible Soldier" />Ugo Borghesi might have the correct location at Verni. I have been reading a book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Soldier-Experience-Black-World/dp/0814319610" rel="nofollow">The Invisible Soldier</a>" by Mary Penick Motley, which has two quotes from the 92nd veterans pointing to Verni as the encampment: 1st Sergeant Charles Brown of the 370th Infantry Regiment states: "Upon reaching the town (Brucciano) we continued through it to the peaks on the north side. From our position beyond Brucciano, by looking over two little peaks we were staring right into the German position on another mountain." (This action occurred on 18 November, 1944.) Google Earth confirms that this could be Verni. Sergeant Willard Williams of the 366th states: "We had been given orders to make an attack upon what they called a hill outside of the town of Gallicano. When we hit that hill the Germans mowed us down like clay pigeons. I recall twelve or thirteen of us made it to the top uninjured. There was no doubt that we were pretty well mangled." They were later forced to retreat from this position. (This action probably happened 5 February, 1945.) During this battle they were reinforced by the all black 332nd Fighter Group which strafed and provided air cover. If it is Verni it was probably defended by the Brescia Alpine Battalion of the Italian Monte Rosa Division and reinforced by the German 285th Grenadier Regiment of the 148th Grenadier Division. There should be an Italian veteran from Monte Rosa or San Marco who would remember this encampment. On the WWII aerial photo there appears to be an anti-tank trench 4.5 meters wide by 500 meters long, these trenches were usually 3 meters deep. At the end of this trench there was a bunkers 35 meters long. Some of these things must still be visible today. Bob Leith The Invisible SoldierUgo Borghesi might have the correct location at Verni. I have been reading a book “The Invisible Soldier” by Mary Penick Motley, which has two quotes from the 92nd veterans pointing to Verni as the encampment:

1st Sergeant Charles Brown of the 370th Infantry Regiment states: “Upon reaching the town (Brucciano) we continued through it to the peaks on the north side. From our position beyond Brucciano, by looking over two little peaks we were staring right into the German position on another mountain.” (This action occurred on 18 November, 1944.) Google Earth confirms that this could be Verni.

Sergeant Willard Williams of the 366th states: “We had been given orders to make an attack upon what they called a hill outside of the town of Gallicano. When we hit that hill the Germans mowed us down like clay pigeons. I recall twelve or thirteen of us made it to the top uninjured. There was no doubt that we were pretty well mangled.” They were later forced to retreat from this position. (This action probably happened 5 February, 1945.) During this battle they were reinforced by the all black 332nd Fighter Group which strafed and provided air cover.

If it is Verni it was probably defended by the Brescia Alpine Battalion of the Italian Monte Rosa Division and reinforced by the German 285th Grenadier Regiment of the 148th Grenadier Division. There should be an Italian veteran from Monte Rosa or San Marco who would remember this encampment.

On the WWII aerial photo there appears to be an anti-tank trench 4.5 meters wide by 500 meters long, these trenches were usually 3 meters deep. At the end of this trench there was a bunkers 35 meters long. Some of these things must still be visible today.

Bob Leith

]]> By: fviviano http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/10/29/seems-like-not-images-of-barga-from-the-air/#comment-2054 fviviano Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:40:45 +0000 http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=12832#comment-2054 Unfortunately, they were quite capable of locating Iraq. Getting out is the hard part. A bit like Italy in its love affair with Herr Hitler, during the war to which you allude. Unfortunately, they were quite capable of locating Iraq. Getting out is the hard part. A bit like Italy in its love affair with Herr Hitler, during the war to which you allude.

]]> By: gianmarco marroni http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/10/29/seems-like-not-images-of-barga-from-the-air/#comment-2053 gianmarco marroni Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:51:22 +0000 http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=12832#comment-2053 La maggior parte dei soldati americani e dei cittadini non sanno dove e' l'Iraq, figurati se riescono a distinguere barga o verni dall alto.. Ciao a tutti La maggior parte dei soldati americani e dei cittadini non sanno dove e’ l’Iraq, figurati se riescono a distinguere barga o verni dall alto..
Ciao a tutti

]]> By: fviviano http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/10/29/seems-like-not-images-of-barga-from-the-air/#comment-2052 fviviano Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:15:34 +0000 http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=12832#comment-2052 Hard to say if Ugo is right about Verni -- it doesn't seem like a precise fit, but it wouldn't after half a century. In any case, like a lot of people I've stared and stared at those WWII images, and they don't remotely suggest either the terrain or urban structure of Barga, even as it must have appeared in the 1940s. What do other readers think? Hard to say if Ugo is right about Verni — it doesn’t seem like a precise fit, but it wouldn’t after half a century. In any case, like a lot of people I’ve stared and stared at those WWII images, and they don’t remotely suggest either the terrain or urban structure of Barga, even as it must have appeared in the 1940s. What do other readers think?

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