Murder of Lieutenant Alfred Lyth

The murder of second Lieutenant Alfred R. Lyth was committed in Garfagnana, Italy, by Italian "Monte Rosa" Division soldiers during World War II.[1]

On February 6, 1945 Lieutenant Lyth's aircraft was hit during the explosion of a bombarded train loaded with munitions, forcing Lyth to parachute to the ground, landing in the village of Torrite. He was later captured by "Monte Rosa" soldiers of the Italian Social Republic and conducted to their headquarters in Camporgiano. After interrogation, during transporting of the prisoner, the Italians shot and killed Lyth, claiming that he was attempting an escape.

At the end of the war the Allies investigated Lyth's death and tried three Italians for the murder. Captain Italo Simonitti was executed in 1947; Seargent Benedetto Pilon condemned to life imprisonment; and General Mario Carloni demoted to the rank of colonel.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Alfred R Lyth, Second Lieutenant from Kansas, World War II Casualty". www.honorstates.org. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  2. ↑ "La vera storia del Tenente pilota Lyth". digilander.libero.it. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
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