CANT Z.506

The CANT Z.506 Airone (Italian: Heron) was a triple-engine 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 World War II 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.

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General characteristics
Crew: 5
Length: 19.24 m 
Wingspan: 26.50 m 
Height: 7.45 m 
Wing area: 86.26 m² 
Empty weight: 8,750 kg 
Max. takeoff weight: 12,705 kg 
Powerplant: 3 × Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.34 radial engines, 560 kW (750 hp) each
Maximum speed: 350 km/h
Range: 2,000 km 
Service ceiling: 7,000 m
Armament: 1 × 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine gun + 3 × 7.7 mm machine guns

Bombs: 1,200 kg of general ordnance or 1 × 800 kg torpedo
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The Airone saw more than 20 years of service. The Z.506B was first used as a reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo bomber in the Spanish Civil War. When Italy entered the Second World War, on 10 June 1940, 97 aircraft were operational with two Stormi da Bombardamento Marittimo (sea bombing units) and some Squadriglia da Ricognizione Marittima. 31°Stormo B.M. "autonomo" with 22 planes was based at Cagliari-Elmas airport, in Sardinia; 35° Stormo B.M., with 25 Z.506 in Brindisi, Puglia. It was used extensively in 1940–41 in France and Greece.

On the outbreak of World War II, four Squadriglie for air-sea rescue missions were formed in Orbetello. These were the 612a in Stagnoni, with aircraft marked DAMB, GORO, BUIE, CANT (the prototype) and POLA, and the 614a in Benghazi, with DUCO, ALA, DODO and DAIM. The two other sections with two aircraft each were based in Torre del Lago and in the Aegean Sea at Leros. The latter was later transferred to Rhodes.

The Z.506 saw its first action on 17 June 1940, the day after some French bombers had attacked Elmas base, killing 21 airmen and destroying some Cant. Z.501s. On the evening of 17 June, four 506Bs from 31° Stormo attacked targets in French North Africa, each dropping two 250 kg and three 100 kg bombs. The type also took part in the Battle of Calabria. In the war against Greece it was used against coastal targets and the Corinth canal. It played an important part in the conquest of many Greek islands, including Corfu, Cephalonia and Zante. Due to its vulnerability against fighters, it was restricted to use by 'recce' units (Squadriglie da Ricognizione). 

Later in the war, it was used in maritime patrol and air-sea rescue missions. The 506 was often forced to land in Spain, due to engine failure, combat damage or a lack of fuel. A special air-sea rescue version, the Z.506S Soccorso, was produced; it was used in small numbers by the Luftwaffe.

The air-sea rescue Z.506s suffered severe losses as many Allied pilots did not stop attacking them, even after they had spotted the red crosses. For instance, on 12 June 1942, off Malta, a Hawker Hurricane from 46 Squadron shot down a Z.506, then shot another one down which had been sent to rescue the crew of the first. Sergeant Etchells, in 249 at Malta recalled:

I shot down a Cant Z506 near Sicily, painted white, which had red crosses on its wings, and was apparently an air-rescue aircraft. Sqn Ldr Barton disapproved but the AOC approved. I did not see the red crosses on its wings at the time and do not know if it would have made any difference had I done so."

A Cant 506 became famous, among the Allies, because it was the only plane hijacked by prisoners of war on the Western Front (it was then used by the RAF from Malta).

When Italy surrendered to the Allies, on 8 September 1943, about 70 Cant 506s were still in service with the Italian Air Force. About 30 surviving Z.506S were assimilated into Allied forces and served with the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. The Germans soon captured the 506 and started using them in Italy, Germany, France, Yugoslavia and even on Greek islands and in Poland. 


The Cant of 171a Squadriglia kept on operating air/sea rescue and patrol missions from the military port of Toulon, with mixed Italian/German crews. Some 506s captured by Germans, flown by Italian volunteer crews, operated in 1944 on the Baltic sea, patrolling the area around Peenemünde. Some examples survived in postwar service until 1959.