A Tale of Two Seaplanes Part 2: Italian CANT Z.506 (Heron)
Bibliography with Notes plus Bonus Content
Sammut, Jeffrey. How an Italian plane was hijacked and flown to Malta in 1942.
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/italian-aircraft-hijacked-and-flown-to-malta.733759
“…The Italian merchant ship was spotted off the coast of Sapientza Island. The torpedo bombers hugged the surface of the sea to start their torpedo runs. They were met by a hail of flak. The torpedo dropped by Strever ran true and slammed into the side of the Italian vessel but the Beaufort was badly shot up in the process. The pilot realised that the aircraft was doomed and there was no option left but to ditch into the sea.
“The crew scrambled out and took to their dinghy which had floated free. They started paddling towards the Greek coast in the blazing July sun. However, a Cant Z.506B, an Italian floatplane, spotted them and landed close by. The Allied crew were ordered on board and became prisoners of war.
“They were flown to Preveza harbour, Corfu, where they were well looked after by their Italian captors. After enjoying a hearty meal, they were allowed the use of the officers’ mess for the rest of the day. In the evening, they were treated to an excellent supper, and then some Italian officers vacated their rooms in order to allow the downed crew a good night’s sleep.
“After breakfast, they were told they were to be flown to Taranto, Italy, for interrogation and imprisonment.
“With every turn of the Cant’s propellers, the Beaufort’s crew were getting closer to a long confinement in a prisoner of war camp. They did not relish this prospect so they decided to try to overpower the Italian airmen.
“…Whatever happened, the end result was that Strever and his men ended up in control of the Italian float plane.
“The Italians were, in their absence, court-martialed and found guilty of allowing the enemy to capture their aircraft. The Cant was painted in British colours and, for a time, used for Air Sea Rescue.
“… took off his white vest and started to wave it frantically out of the cockpit window as a sign of surrender. This did not deter the British fighters. One of the Spitfires riddled the Cant’s wing with cannon shells and machine gun bullets…”
Bonus Illustrations
WWII in North Africa 