Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 nicknamed "Tante Ju" (Auntie Ju) and "Iron Annie" was a civilian airliner and military transport aircraft and bomber manufactured between 1932 and 1945 by Junkers.
Originally prototyped in 1930 with one engine by Ernst Zindel in the Junkers works at Dessau, its corrugated metal fuselage gave a characteristic boxy appearance. Three BMW Hornet engines improved performance and load carrying abilities. As a Lufthansa airliner, the Ju52 could seat seventeen, reaching Rome from Berlin in 8 hours. Export models were also built with Pratt & Whitney Wasp and Bristol Pegasus engines.
The Ju 52 first saw military service in the Spanish Civil War with roles as a bomber and as a transport, including paratroop drops. The Luftwaffe relied on the Ju52 for transport roles during World War II. Compared to fighters, it was slow (top speed 165 mph) and lightly armed, so an escort was always necessary; many were shot down.
While most were destroyed following war's end, a small number was manufactured after 1945 in France and Spain. Some continued in productive service by the Swiss air force until the 1980's. Quite a few are still airworthy and in regular use today.
External Links
www.ju52-3m.ch
www.compsoc.man.ac.uk
www.oldprops.f9.co.uk
www.constable.ca
Referenced By
Airborne forces | Aircraft Types | Bristol Jupiter | German Air Ministry (1933-45) | Junkers | List of Aicraft of the WW2 Luftwaffe | List of German Air Ministry type numbers | List of RLM aircraft | List of RLM aircraft type numbers | List of WW2 Luftwaffe aircraft | List of aircraft | List of aircraft by date and usage category | List of aircraft of WW2 Luftwaffe | List of aircraft of the WW2 Luftwaffe | List of military aircraft of Germany | List of military aircraft of Germany by manufacturer | List of military aircraft of the Luftwaffe | List of vertical lift aircraft | RLM aircraft by manufacturer | Reichsluftfahrtministerium | Spanish Civil War | Spanish Revolution | Spanish war
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