Italy: Regia Aeronautica Warplanes of the Second World War: CANT fighters and bombers

Italy: Regia Aeronautica Warplanes of the Second World War: CANT fighters and bombers

CANT Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull) maritime patrol float plane. (Regia Aeronautica Photos)

CANT Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull) maritime patrol float plane, found intact by the RAAF on the occupation of Sicily, Italy. c. September 1943. No. 3 Squadron also acquired a CANT Z.501 Gabbiano single engined reconnaissance flying boat at Bari, also coded CV-V, although it was not flown. CANT Z.501 coded 147-11, HK976 was pressed into service in the RAF on 20 December 1943 after Italy surrendered. This floatplane eventually went to the Free French. (Australian War Memorial Photo MEA0311)

CANT Z.506B Airone (Heron) maritime patrol/bomber. (Regia Aeronautica Photos)

(RAF Photos)

CANT Z.506B Airone (Heron) maritime patrol/bomber, Cant Z.506B forced down on Mondello beach, Sicily, Sep 1943.

(RAF Photos)

CANT Z.506B Airone (Heron) maritime patrol/bomber in RAF markings, one of three CANT Z.506B Airone, coded 147-4, HK977, 147-7, HK978 and 147-2, HK979, which were taken on RAF strength on 20 December 1943. One of these Cant Z.506 floatplanes belonged to the Regia Aeronautica’s 139th Squadron. On 29 July 1942, it was used by the RA to rescue the crew of a ditched Bristol Beaufort, but the English prisoners overwhelmed the Italians during the flight to Taranto, Italy and hijacked the aircraft to Malta. Afterwards the aircraft was based at Alexandria.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

(Zerosei Photo)

( nne258 Photo)

CANT Z.506B Airone (Heron) maritime patrol/bomber on display in the Italian Air Force Museum, Vigna di Valle on Lake Bracciano in central Italy. The Airone was a triple-engine floatplane produced by CANT from 1935. During the Second World War, it was used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and air-sea rescue plane by the Italian Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe.

CANT Z.506C Airone (Heron) transport/rescue. (Regia Aeronautica Photos)

CANT Z.511 transport seaplane. (Regia Aeronautica Photo)

CANT Z.515 reconnaissance/bomber. (Regia Aeronautica Photos)

CANT Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher) bomber, a three-engined medium bomber with wooden structure. The Alcione had excellent flying characteristics and good stability and was regarded by many as the best Italian bomber of the Second World War although its wooden structure could be easily damaged by extreme climate conditions, like those experienced in North Africa and in Russia. (Regia Aeronautica Photos)