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Junkers Ju-52 Versatile Workhorse The Ju 52 was
obsolete as a bomber by 1939, but because of its durability, simplicity
of design, and handling characteristics it continued to serve throughout
WW II as a versatile workhorse of the German transport fleet. For
a period, Adolph Hitler used a Ju-52 as his private transport. Ju-52s
delivered the attacking forces and their supplies during the German
invasion of Norway, Denmark, France and the Low Countries in 1940.
Almost 500 Ju-52s participated in the historic airborne assualt
on the island of Crete in May 1941 and Junkers later supplied Rommel's
armored forces with them in North Africa.
Here are the photos of the final Ju 52. This is
probably the paint scheme most
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Junker Ju-52
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The Ju52/3m became a very sucessfull aircraft from its beginnings.
Following LAB, further orders were placed by Finland, Sweden and Romania, where
the Federation Aeronautica Internationale (FAI) ordered perhaps the world's
first VIP aircraft with an exclusive and highly comfortable cabin for the FAI
president. Lufthansa's first Ju52/3m flew first in May 1932. The Ju52/3m became
the backbone of Lufthansa's fleet until the end of WWII and the dissolve of
the airline itself. On August 25th 1932 Lufthansa's first Ju52/3m D-2201 participated
at the Alp Round Flight. Lufthansa itself used this competition to compare the
three major airliners of these days, the Dornier Do K, the Fokker F XII and
the Ju52/3m. The Ju52/3m was the absolute winner of this roundtrip. During the
following months Lufthansa checked the reliablity of the Ju52 enroute the difficult
Alproute from Munich to Milano and Rome. Following these sucessfull tests numerous
of orders were received from airlines all over the world. The Ju52/3m passenger
airliner was sold to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, South
Africa, Denmark, Norway, Italy, UK, Belgium, Hungary, Estonia, Greece and Spain.
A total of 400 passenger airliners were sold until the breakout of WWII. Hugo
Junkers himself was only able to influence the Ju52 developement during the
first two years. In 1934 he was pushed out of his own company by the Nazi government.
However the Ju52 production survived Hugo Junkers for years. Still in the final
phases of WWII and after the end of WWII in France and Spain Ju52s were produced
in large quantities.
![]() ![]() Junkers Ju52-3 Prototype of 1932 ![]()
Chip / Nick, ![]() ![]() (transport version) Span: 95 ft. 11 1/2 in. Length: 62 ft. 0 in. Height: 18 ft. 2 1/2 in. Weight: 24,250 lbs. loaded Armament: Four 7.9mm machine guns Engines: Three BMW 132T-2 engines of 830 hp. ea. Serial number: T.2B-244 (CASA 352L) (transport version) Maximum speed: 178 mph. Cruising speed: 134 mph. Range: 810 miles Service Ceiling: 19,360 ft.
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The Ju 52 was
obsolete as a bomber by 1939, but because of its durability, simplicity
of design, and handling characteristics it continued to serve throughout
WW II as a versatile workhorse of the German transport fleet. For
a period, Adolph Hitler used a Ju-52 as his private transport. Ju-52s
delivered the attacking forces and their supplies during the German
invasion of Norway, Denmark, France and the Low Countries in 1940.
Almost 500 Ju-52s participated in the historic airborne assualt
on the island of Crete in May 1941 and Junkers later supplied Rommel's
armored forces with them in North Africa.



















lovely wife Mary down in a small town called
Alden, in SE Pa. John is an artist working for TV Guide and Mary
is a lawyer representing death row inmates. A great time was
had by all and the day finished way too soon.