Michael Casano

Michael Peter Casano MC (1913–2006) was a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force, who served during World War II.

Biography
Casano was born on 7 June 1913 at Folkestone and educated at Dover College. Having failed the entrance examination to the RAF College, Cranwell he joined the East Kent Regiment but bought himself out to gain a commission in the RAF three years later.

Casano learned to fly in Egypt but a serious accident (leading to a fractured skull) meant that he was posted onto armoured cars. He led the RAF’s No 2 Armoured Car company during the Battle of Alamein. It was with this company during the fighting over the Fallujah Plain near Baghdad in the summer of 1941 that Casano won his MC. The citation reads:

"The successes of the 'HAB' force, both in Iraq and Syria, were largely due to this officer; he operated virtually alone, and his zeal and devotion to duty deserves the highest praise. He displayed the greatest gallantry."

On 6 March 1943 Casano was badly wounded in a German air attack and whilst recovering he met Major-General Sir John Glubb (Glubb Pasha); the outcome of this meeting was he joined Sir John in the Arab Legion to take command of their armoured cars.

Michael Casano continued to serve in the RAF after the war until 1958 when he became a driving instructor in Kent. He was a notable figure in Folkestone (and a keen member of the Folkestone Rowing Club) and a plaque to his memory was placed on the (then) newly restored Bandstand on the Leas in 2006 shortly after he died.