An Italian seaplane Cant-Z-506B on the harbor of Cephalonia after the landing of an small airborne troop’s contingent, on April 30, 1941. The plane is one of the five seaplanes took off from Brindisi for the mission at Cephalonia followed by three transport aircrafts SM.82 with sixty parachutists. On May 1, 1941, two Cant-Z-506Bs landed at Zante soon after occupied by troops arrive on board of some boats. The Greek Ionian Island were occupied by Infantry Division “Acqui” of Italian Army. After the Armistice of 8 September 1943, the entire Italian Cephalonia’s garrison refused the surrender to Germans and was attacked and overwhelmed by Nazi troops with some 3,000 dead. And from 14 to 22 September 1943 over 5,000 of survivors were slaughtered by Germans. Victor Sierra

Italian seaplane at Cephalonia

At the end unsuccessful campaign against the Greece, the Italy, long time present in Aegean Islands, on April 1941 occupied the Ionian Islands with a briefly operation accomplished at beginning with a small lot of airborne forces. The start of operation was the takeoff from Brindisi, the morning of April 28, 1941, of five float planes Cant-Z.506B of 86th Gruppo which landed at Corfu under the protection of fighters and fighter bombers. In the afternoon at Corfu landed other four Cant-Z-506B with a small force of Regia Aeronautica’s personnel and Carabinieri, in total about 100 men. Two days later landed on Corfu an infantry’s regiment and the conquest of Corfu was completed. In the photo some Italian soldiers and high ranks officers after the Island’s capitulation. Note in background two of the mission’s Cant-Z-506Bs. On April 30, 1941, also with an air landing, was occupied Cephalonia. Victor Sierra

The Ionian Islands in Italian hands

A Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6 of Repubblica Sociale’s Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (Republican National Air Force) hid under the trees of Lombard moor, at Cascina Vaga, Winter 1944-1945. Note the Italian tricolor on the fin and under the cockpit added to German Balkenkreuz on fuselage. Victor Sierra