Knights of the Order of Malta

[Glenn Gilbertson]

The current (December 2009) "Aeroplane Monthly",pp 91-2 has a picture of an Italian C-53 with the fuselage roundel replaced by a Maltese Cross. Two readers have given the explanation that to avoid exceeding the 300 aircraft limit placed on the Italian Air Force immediately post WW2, some transports - SM.82a, G.212 & C-53 were nominally transferred to the Knights of the Order of Malta, based in Rome. Apparently the Sovereign Military Order of Malta had an internationally recognised right to have military forces - scope for an alternative history?

[nev]

That would be the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, aka The Knights Hospitalller, who ruled Malta for most of the last Millenia, up until the British stepped in in the early 19th century (to stop Napoleon getting there first ).

Sounds right up YSIs "anachronistic" street.