A rare wartime Italian military map of Malta has been donated to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna for display in one of its museums.
The A-1 size map issued by Super Aerea – the High Command of the Regia Aeronautica is dated 1941. It shows military facilities on the island including fortifications, gun batteries, military camps, machine-gun positions, signal stations, airfields, naval installations and much more.
The map was issued for joint Italian and German use; hence it also includes the German language. It is marked ‘Secret’ in bold.
The map was presented to FWA Chairman Mario Farrugia by Fiammetta Curcio of Rome thanks to the efforts of Antione Blanchez, daughter of Ing. Dante Curcio who during the war was an Italian air force officer employed in the jamming of the RAF radar stations on Malta. Ing. Curcio was credited with the breaking of the British Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) signal by which British aircraft would identify themselves to ground defences.
The map will be sent for expert cleaning and conservation for eventual display at the Malta at War Museum in Vittoriosa.
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