My new friend Colin (you may have seen his posts here on the site this week) is doing research on the Sicilian campaign and is planning another trip this spring.

We were discussing the 540th Combat Engineers and the role they played in this campaign. I also told him that my mom's parents were from Sicily and he wanted me to let him know where they were from. So here's a little info for all:

The 540th Combat Engineers landed at Licata and Gela. They proceeded north and went all the way up to Palermo and Termini Imerese. Go Patton!!

Our family is from Marsala. There are also a lot of Pumas living in Trapani.

The above map is from Multi Map. Give them a try. Very good service.

The Air Force engineers can wear the “combat patch†throughout their deployment. Soldiers awarded the patch have the option to continue wearing the shoulder-sleeve insignia throughout their Army careers. Regulations permitting the Airmen to wear the patch when they return to their duty station are being reviewed, officials said.

With or without the patch, improving the quality of life for deployed troops and Afghans is what keeps these engineers drawing up designs well into the end of the shift some nights, Colonel Blanzy said.

“These guys have never shirked from any job they’ve been given because they know we’re all working for a greater purpose,†he said. “It’s tough at times -- they have careers at home that are on hold and [a] family they miss being away from, but they continue giving 100 percent.â€

After finishing gunnery school at Tyndall Fld. In Florida, We reported to Westover Fld. Mass. And this is where we formed our crew. Our pilot was a former guard on the Ohio State football team. We then went to Chatham Fld. At Sav. Ga. For phase training which consisted of camera gunner flts.—tow target firing---formation flying--- all these good things. The first time we had a nite flt. Was to drop dummy bombs on the bombing range. We started our bomb run and the bombider was flying the plane with the bomb sight and all at once he yelled To the pilot take the plane---turn left, turn left nooooo J---turn right now!!!Dave whipped that 24 on it’s right wing in a turning dive and we just missed another B-24 coming in on the same range the wrong way!!!Now needless to say I never enjoyed flying at nite after this. I said to myself this is happening here in the states what the hell is it going to be like when we get overseas.

We finished phase training and went up to Mitchell Fld. Where they gave us a new B-24. We left there and opened up our orders and destination was to the 8th AF via North Atlantic . We were to land at either N.H. Bgr. Or P.I.. before heading to Goose Bay Lab. Now being from P.I. I hoped we would land there, but the way the army works we landed in N.H. and was there for 5 days . We flew right over my home on the way to Goose. After landingat Goose we were taxing on ice and in trying to make a turn slid into a B-17 taking the nose out of it, and crumpled our wing tip. They had to board up the nose of the 17 and fly it back to the states and by god they had a wing tip at Goose and replaced ours. I don’t know if the 17 crew was glad to be going back or ready to kill us. We then flew to Iceland and weathered in there for almost a week before going to Meeks Fld. They took the 24 away from us and we were transported to the 453rd BG at Old Buckingham Eng.

I am researching the US 7th Army campaign in Sicily July/August 1943. Please see my post under 7th Army.

Colin.

For the past two and a half years I have been researching Operation Husky the campaign to capture the island of Sicily from the Axis. I have so far concentrated on the British and Commonwealth 8th Army and the Canadian 1st Division and their actions in eastern Sicily. I have visited Sicily over the last two summers, going to landing and battle sites and war cemeterys.

I return to Sicily in May 2005 and for the second week of my stay will be tracing the path west of the US 7th Army from Agrigento via Corleone to Palemo and then along the northern coast.

I would like to hear from 7th Army veterans, families and friends with any memories etc. on this action.

Colin.