Warplanes of Italy: Regia Aeronautica, CANT Z.506B Airone

CANT Z.506B Airone

(RAF Photo)

The CANT Z.506 Airone (Italian: Heron) was a trimotor floatplane produced by CANT from 1935. It served as a transport and postal aircraft with the Italian airline "Ala Littoria". It established 10 world records in 1936 and another 10 in 1937. During the Second World War it was used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and air-sea rescue plane, by the Italian Regia Aeronautica and Regia Marina, Aeronautica Cobelligerante del Sud, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and the Luftwaffe. The military version revealed itself to be one of the best floatplanes ever built. Despite its wooden structure it was able to operate in very rough seas. A number of Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service until 1959. (Wikipedia)

 (RAF Photos)

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

(Regia Aeronautica Photos)

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

(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.

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