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CANT Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher)

1938 BATTLE OF BRITAIN WORLD WAR 2

History

The Italian Air Force ("Regia Aeronautica") was one of the few national air forces in the Second World War (1939-1945) that used a large number of three-engine aircraft arrangements, typified by the hybrid medium bomber Savoia-Marchetti SM fleet. 79 Sparviero (Sparrowhawk), Fiat B.R.

20 Cicogna (Stork) and CANT Z. 1007 Alcione (Kingfisher). In the latter design, the record-breaking Z. 506 'Airone' seaplane was the basis for evolution into land-based variants - both designed by CANT engineer Filippo Zappata (1894-1994). The Z. 1007 appeared in operational form in 1938 and was expected to number around 540 by the end of the war (sources vary slightly), with production running from 1938 to 1943.

It was considered one of the better Italian medium bombers of the war, although not without some inherent design issues arising from actual use.

Zappata began with two separate medium bomber designs, designated Z. 1007 and Z. 1011. They are wooden structures powered by 3 x Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC. 15 liquid-cooled in-line piston engines driving two-blade metal propellers.

The Z.1007 became the design of choice and 18 were ordered in January 1936. Another 16 followed in February 1937.

The Z. 1007bis has an internal bomb load, now raised to 2,430 lbs. An additional 2,200 pounds could be carried under the wings, bringing the total bomb load to nearly 5,000 pounds.

The Z. 100bis variant did not use conventional bomb-dropping, but was allowed to carry 2 x 1,800 lb torpedoes for maritime attack/anti-ship missions, although the Z. 1007 is not believed to have ever been used.

The Z. 1007bis came out in late 1938 and became the definitive Z.1007 brand with the highest production of the entire range. Eight pre-production molds were used as evaluation test beds for Guidonia. There was longitudinal instability during testing, so the single tail rudder was modified and now features a split dual vertical tail design.

During operational service, both forms came into play, with a total of 450 Z.1007bis variants produced.

The Z. 1007 line ends in its final form - the Z. 1007ter. This variant debuted in early 1943 - before the Italian surrender in September - and was equipped with 3 x Piaggio P. XIX radial piston engines. The new design has a top speed of 305 mph and service is capped at 32,900 feet.

Production of this type is limited to 50 examples.

Z.1007 Operational Services

The Z. 1007 officially entered service in the spring of 1940 as part of the 47th Stormo Brigade of the 106th and 107th restrictions. Z. 1007 was used by Italy during the siege of Malta (June 1940-November 1942) to claim the island as a base for continued Axis control of North Africa. It was also used for night bombing, although less than half of the 30 aircraft available in the campaign were actually useful.

The battle ended with a decisive Allied victory and a blow to the Axis action in the Mediterranean.

During the German conquest of Britain in the Battle of Britain (July-October 1940), Italy supplied only three Z. 1007s to Axis-controlled Belgium. Aircraft used for reconnaissance purposes were no longer needed when they arrived in September, serving only on a forgotten mission - albeit without losses.

Z. 1007 should have shown its worth during the Italian invasion of Greece. The invasion began on October 28, 1940, when the Z.1007 was deployed, and the bombing campaign ended the most extensive Z.1007 deployment in the entire WWII.

However, the Greco-Italian theatre also revealed a major flaw in Z. 1007's design - its wooden structure - which proved to be heavily influenced by environmental factors. Humidity and rainfall in the region during conflict resulted in structural deformation and often limited its availability during critical phases.

Nevertheless, due to the lack of better alternatives and availability, Z. 1007 has been working. This led to their deployment over Yugoslavia beginning in early April 1941. The short-lived Yugoslav Front lasted from 6 to 18 April and achieved a decisive Axis victory.

The Italians formed a force led by the Germans and supported by the Hungarians.

Since then, the Z. 1007 has been used primarily in the Mediterranean to help control vital shipping lanes. It also assisted operations in North and East Africa, while its service on the Eastern Front proved short-lived - again due to extreme circumstances, especially on Soviet territory. In September 1943, the Italian government signed an armistice with the Allies, revoking their status as Axis supporters during the war.

While retreating to the north, the Germans took control of some 30 Z. 1007s, but never used them in combat. The remaining stock fell into the hands of the restructured Italian Air Force ("Italian Warring Air Force") that was fighting the Axis powers.