Association Benach (Honoring Americans who fought at Lake Garda,Northern Italy)

The Associazione Benàch was founded in July 2011 by a group of people interested in encouraging and developing greater awareness of local historical events such as the aviation story of the WWII Combat B-25, the “Maybe” (May Be). We also promote the protection, conservation, and appreciation of our cultural-historical, artistic, and environmental heritage. Why Benàch? With this name, we want to emphasize the close relationship with our local roots. Benàch was the ancient name of Lake Garda, and most likely the small town of Nago (local dialect ‘Nach’). Benach is located in the Northern part of Italy. Since 2011 the Associazione Benàch has organized several exhibitions in Nago and Torbole on WWII events in the local area. We have become well known for our expertise in the air war in Trento (also known as the ‘Battle for Brenner’). We have organized several memorial ceremonies and accompanied US families’ visiting Italy to places of interest such as crash sites, hideouts, hospitals, and bunkers. The Benach Association published a paper and discussed its finds at the “Sites and architectural structures of the Second World War: 1939-1945 - Defence systems and reinforced concrete, archaeology, architecture, and reuse project” conference at the Politecnico of Milano in 2013. In January 2015, we co-organized a memorial ceremony and unveiling of a plaque in Pietramurata (a little village just north of Arco) to remember the airmen from the 310th Bomb Group, 428th Bomb Squad, a B-25 J Mitchell, nicknamed “Sad Sack”, #43-27666 that crashed on 4 January 1945. We have also organized historical tours (Staff Rides) in partnership with the US base in Vicenza to improve their officers’ knowledge of WWII history in Trentino and northern Italy. One of our most successful events is the ‘Col. Darby 40-mile Ranger Challenge’, which takes place annually on April 30, started in 2009. It is a foot march that begins at 6 a.m. in Pesc