| Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT – “Trieste Shipbuilding and Naval Aeronautics”) Z.506B seaplane constructed for the Regia Aeronautica Italiana (RAI – “Royal Italian Air Force”) captured by the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) and painted in national colors, after float was punctured and the aircraft it capsized and sank off Sliema in rough seas. On July 29, 1942, Bristol Beauforts of Number 217 Squadron, escorted by cannon-armed Beaufighters, attacked an enemy convoy of 2 destroyers and 1 merchant vessel, steaming southwards from Sapienza. Among them was Bristol Beaufort L9820, piloted by South African Air Force (SAAF) Lieutenant Edward T. “Ted” Strever (February 12, 1920 – February 18, 1997) of Klerksdorp; navigator Pilot Officer William M. Dunsmore (April 27, 1910 – July 1988), RAF, from Liverpool; wireless operator Sergeant John A. Wilkinson (November 8, 1919 – February 28, 1945), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) from Auckland; Air Gunner Sergeant Alexander R. Brown (September 5, 1915 – December 6, 2004), RNZAF, from Timaru. As they flew over the Axis merchantman to release their torpedo successfully, the aircraft was hit in both engines. Forced to ditch in the sea, Strever almost drowned in the cockpit before managing to struggle free and join his crew in their dinghy. Within hours, they were picked up by a RAI CANT Z506B floatplane, coded MM.45432, 13th aircraft of the 139th RAI Squadriglia Ricognizione Marittima (“Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron”) which took them to the Island of Corfu. They were treated very well, given a good meal of wine, pasta and steak and a bed for the night. Next morning they boarded a floatplane to be flown to Taranto, faced with the prospect of becoming Prisoners of War. That crew consisted of Tenente (“Lieutenant”) Gaetano Mastrodicasa (???? – ????), pilot; Maresciallo (“Marshal”) Alessandro Cifari (???? – ????), co-pilot; Sergenti (“Sergeant”) T. Losi (???? – ????), engineer; Aviere Scelto (“Selected Airman”) Marcello Schisano (???? – ????), wireless operator; and Sergente Carabiniere (“Police Sergeant”) Giulio Scarciella (???? – ????). But as the aircraft approached Sicily, the captive Allied airmen set upon the CANT’s 5-man RAI crew, knocking out the radio operator and disarming the others before ordering pilot Mastrodicasa to change course for Malta. Strever used the Carabiniere as a human shield to disarm the pilots, who were armed with a pistol and a submachine gun. As the apparently hostile aircraft neared Malta, it triggered the air raid alert and 6 Spitfires of Number 603 Squadron were scrambled to intercept from RAF Ta Qali Aerodrome. 3 of them attacked the floatplane as it approached Saint Paul’s Bay. Strever ordered the Italian pilot, Mastrodicasa, to land immediately on the water. 1 of his crew then pulled off his shirt and his vest, to wave as a white flag as they scrambled onto the wings. Puzzled, the Spitfire pilots ceased firing and radioed for the air sea rescue launch, circling overhead until it arrived. The crew of HSL 107 were bemused to find 4 RAF airmen waiting for them on the floatplane’s wings, along with its crew of 5 Italians. Air-Sea Rescue Commander Joseph S. Houghton (November 9, 1911 – April 1993) recalled: “The CANT was towed by HSL (High Speed Launch) 107 to Saint Paul’s Island. It was then passed over to our Seaplane Tender and taken to a buoy off Saint Paul’s Pier, where the five Italians and four Commonwealth airmen were taken ashore. A very strong Army guard was provided to prevent the locals from attacking the Italians. The South African captain, who had led the hijack, brandished his revolver, leaving no doubt as to what he would have done if the Italians had been harmed.” Strever returned his previous captors’ hospitality before seeing them in turn taken prisoners of war. For their actions, Strever and Dunsmore were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Sergeants Brown and Wilkinson the Distinguished Flying Medal. The following day, the CANT was towed to Grand Harbor by seaplane tender ST253 for examination. It then took off making a good touch-down at Kalafrana as the RAF intended using the floatplane for anti-shipping duties. The “highjacked” CANT floatplane was taken to Kalafrana, where, 2 days later, British roundels were painted over the Italian ones, a fin flash was added, and the former Axis plane given the RAF serial HK977. It flew an air-sea rescue mission before being sent to Alexandria, Egypt and then on to England. Co-pilot Chifari was charged with converting a few Malta-based Allied pilots on flying the CANT Z.506B. Malta Command wanted to use the elegant and functional Italian seaplane to recover survivors from the open sea, but the life of poor 139-13 was destined to be brief. Despite the abundant British markings and codes, and the awareness of the aircraft’s operations by the islands radar centers, on more than 1 occasion Supermarine Spitfire pilots operating around Malta threatened the aircraft, recognizing the unmistakable profile of 1 of the most numerous trimotors serving with the units of the Regia Aeronautica. It was put into use during the following fortnight, but before that it had 1 of her floats damaged after a collision with a ramp. Of the incident, 60 years later, Air-Sea Rescue Coxswain Francis E. “Ted” Shute (August 2, 1923 – 1999) of Cambridge, England, recalled: “Captured aircraft always caused some incident or other for which we remember them. When the CANT MM.45432 was brought to Kalafrana after landing near St.Paul’s Bay, we were preparing her for a ‘special operation’ that night when one of our coxwains, Corporal Walter Bramhall came into the camber on A2 which had a faulty gearbox. Unfortunately the engines stuck in forward gear causing A2 to hit one of the floats on the CANT and hole it. By keeping A2 under the wing of the aircraft, it was kept afloat until it could be beached for repairs.” The Manchester Evening News reported the story on March 21, 1958: “The [Bristol] Beaufort aircraft, lying in the sea, listed badly. Her pilot, Lieutenant “Ted” Strever, of the Royal South African Air Force, watched the remainder of his Number 217 Squadron vanish over the horizon heading back to Malta.” “That morning, July 28, 1942, they had attacked an Axis convoy off the west coast of Greece. Strever’s crew had seen their torpedo “wham home.” But thev, too, were hit by anti-aircraft fire – and within fifteen minutes the Beaufort had to be ditched.” “The crew under Strever consisted of the navigator, Pilot Officer W. M. Dunsmore, Englishman, and two New Zealanders, Sergeant J. A. Wilkinson, the wireless operator, and Sergeant A. R. Brown, the air gunner.” “Only a few minutes after the Beaufort sank, their dinghy was sighted and they were picked up by an Italian floatplane, a CANT Z.506B.” “Once on board, they were given brandy and cigarettes. This was followed by more wine and plenty of wonderful food when they were landed on the island of Corfu.” “The Italian garrison officers treated them more like conquering heroes than prisoners — even to the point of giving up their own rooms so that the four men could sleep comfortably.” “But this gay life lasted for one night only. The next morning the British crew were informed that they were to be flown to Italy to a Prisoner of War camp.” “On arriving at the island’s harbor they found that they were to travel in the same CANT that had rescued them. The Italian crew were even more cheerful than they had been on the previous day because, once they had delivered the prisoners. they were all due for leave.” “Bottles of Greek wine were packed (ready for a joyous homecoming) in the cases which they carried to the aircraft. There they were joined by a beaming little Italian corporal-a groundling, who had never flown before. He, too, was going on leave – and was to guard the prisoners during the journey to Italy.” “The nine men clambered cheerily aboard and the old floatplane took off. To say that she flew like a bird would be true if you added that she almost flapped her wings every time she hit an air pocket.” “The occupants were jostled and bumped as they headed towards Italy and slowly the happy little smile withered on the corporal’s face. His olive brown complexion gradually changed to pale shade of olive green. Obviously the jerking of the aircraft was a little too much for him.” “Sergeant J. A. Wilkinson was the first to notice that the Italian was no longer enjoying the air trip-and this gave him an idea.” “Conversation between the British and Italian crews was, of course, very limited because neither understood the other’s language.” “So, gazing through one of the ports, Wilkinson feigned entrancement at the scenery below and, to attract the corporal’s attention, he made dramatic gestures which he hoped appeal to the The guard was only too pleased to be distracted from his present misery and moved to stare almost longingly at the sea below. As he did so. Wilkinson sent him flying with a right to the jaw. Then he grabbed his revolver and tossed it to Strever.” “The whole British crew jumped into action. Dunsmore and Brown launched themselves at the engineer. But by this time the Italians were alert and the pilot grabbed for his revolver. The second pilot reached for a machine gun. He was sent crashing against the side of the fuselage by a wrench which Brown hurled at him. Wilkinson snatched up the unlucky little corporal and using him as a shield advanced down the fuselage. Strever followed behind flourishing the man’s revolver. The force and speed of the attack was too much for the Italians. In a few moments they gave up – and were tightly bound with their own belts. And the corporal was violently ill.” “Strever took over the controls. It was decided to fly the plane to Sicily where they might have a chance to escape inland.” “But this was no easy task. The CANT machine was entirely unknown to Strever and he had no idea of the petrol consumption. No maps or charts could be found on board. Dunsmore, by begging, pleading and threatening in sign language, eventually persuaded his Italian counterpart to help him draw a map from memory.” “The Italian second pilot also decided to co-operate and he took over the controls.” “After two hours’ flying the toe of Italy was sighted. and an hour later Dunsmore identified the Sicilian coast.” “Strever then decided to chance their luck and ordered the Italian pilot to turn south for Malta. The loud, broken-English lamentations that petrol was too low, and that in any case they would probably be shot down by British fighters. were ignored. They flew on.” “The British crew were getting really excited at the thought of their homecoming when there was a loud wail from the second pilot. Looking towards the petrol gauge, at which he was frantically pointing. they saw that it was wavering on zero. But by this time they knew that land must be fairly near. and Strever waved him on.” “The plane dropped lower. Strever hoped to sneak in under Malta’s radar detection screen. His hopes came to nothing.” “Sergeant Brown had just sighted land when three Spitfires swooped on the CANT. They were raked and fired at from all angles. Sweat poured from the Italian pilot, Brown desperately swung one machine gun to and fro in what he hoped would look like amicable gestures. The only white object Dunsmore could find was his vest. This he took off and frantically waved it.” “It was no use. The Spitfires continued to dive and on them from all directions. The starboard wing was hit. Strever decided not to take any more chances and ordered the second pilot to take CANT down. As the floats hit the sea the last drain of petrol spluttered in the engines.” “The attack stopped everything became quiet. Three Spitfires circled round and headed towards Malta. As Strever and his companions thankfully watched them disappear they felt time had come for a celebration. The Greek wine was unpacked and when a short time after wards an air-sea rescue launch pulled up alongside. its found the British and Italians sitting on the Cant wings drinking together.” “Everybody ashore was astounded to see the British crew whom they had given upfor lost, and that evening there was a tremendous mess party with the Italians virtual guests of honor.” “For their parts in capturing the CANT, Lieutenant E. T. Strever and Pilot Officer W. M. Dunsmore received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Sergeant R. Brown and Sergeant J. A. Wilkinson were awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.” The Italian Prisoners of War were transported to Gibraltar with an English convoy on August 14, 1942, 1 of the many journeys of the unfortunate crew before arriving in an American prison camp. The pilot, Mastrodicasa, whose idea it had been to transport the RAF prisoners to Taranto, was later tried in absentia by the RAI and found guilty of disobedience and of allowing his aircraft to be captured by the enemy. An RAF Spitfire pilot, Harry Coldbeck (November 27, 1916 – May 31, 1998), dropped the Italian’s personal items and family letters over the RAI Catania base. In a dangerous mission over heavy anti-aircraft sites, he threw the package out of his open cockpit and took photos with his photo reconnaissance camera. Shot down on November 10, he asked if the package was received. The Italians confirmed it was but wouldn’t say if the letters were forwarded to their families. Strever and 217 Squadron were posted to Ceylon in late 1942. On November 1, 1944, his Beaufighter transport crashed, causing extensive burns. He was hospitalized and didn’t return to action until April 1945. He became Number 27 Squadron Commanding Officer on April 10, 1945, when his predecessor was killed in action. He survived the war and continued to fly his own private aircraft in South Africa. Mastrodicasa visited the United States in May 1957 as a General Staff Officer with the Italian Air Force Air War College. With other officers, he toured Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0694.jpg |
| Image Size | 242.14 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1975 x 2083 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Royal Army Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Kalafrana |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Malta |
| Archive | Royal Air Force |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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