The 1947 Treaty of Paris ended the war between Italy and the Allied powers. Articles 64-66 placed severe limitations upon the Italian Air Force, which the Italians hoped to circumvent.
For this purpose, the postwar Italian government sought assistance from the Order of Malta, a chivalric order that dates back to 1099 and exists to this day.
Are the Knights of Malta their own country? That's hard to answer. They have sovereignty over their headquarters building in Rome. They have diplomatic relations with 113 countries, permanent observer status in the United Nations, and issue their own passports which are recognized internationally.
For a few years, starting in 1947, the Order of Malta even fielded its own air force. This consisted of military aircraft transferred by the Italian government. The Order painted a roundel derived from its flag on the planes and flew them on transport and humanitarian missions.
After Italy joined NATO as a founding member in 1949, it was permitted to resume normal air operations and resumed control over these loaned aircraft.
-via Eric S. Raymond
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