Description
Book SynopsisThe single-engine Junkers Ju 52 first flew in 1930. Designed and built by the Junkers Aircraft Company of Dessau, Germany, the Ju 52 was originally intended as a cargo aircraft. An upgraded model, the Ju 52/3m, was powered by three engines, excelling as an 18-seat airliner. By the late 1930s, hundreds of the safe and reliable Ju 52/3m were serving with airlines in more than 20 countries, including the prewar British Airways. It was used as a bomber by the reestablished Luftwaffe, particularly in the Spanish Civil War. During the Second World War, the Ju 52/3m was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe transport squadrons. Affectionately known as Faithful Old Annie and Iron Annie, the Ju 52/3m was used during the invasions of Norway, the Low Countries, Crete as well as the resupply of Stalingrad and Rommel s Africa Corps. In all, more than 5,000 were built. After the war, production continued in France and Spain. Amazingly, captured Ju 52/3ms were rebuilt postwar and briefly operated as airliners on domestic routes in Great Britain! Today, about 50 Ju 52/3ms survive, with less than ten flying. The Junkers Ju 52/3m is one of the most significant transport airplanes in the history of aviation."
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Notes on Sources; Author's Note; Abbreviations; Introduction; The Junkers Flugzeug-und Motorenwerke AG and its Predecessors; Hugo Junkers; The First All-metal Aeroplanes; A Shift to Civilian Transport Aeroplanes; Larger and More Capable Transport Aeroplanes; Technical Description; Ju 52/3m Airliner Operations in Germany; Junkers Ju 52/3m Production in Germany; France; Hungary; Spain; Further Development; Junkers Ju 252; Junkers Ju 352 Herkules; Into Luftwaffe Service; Spain; Other Duties; Poland; Denmark and Norway; Blitzkrieg; Operation Seelowe; North Africa-The Initial Phase; Invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece; Crete; Iraqi Diversion; Operation Barbarossa; Demyansk Airlift; Stalingrad; North African Defeat; On the Retreat; Final Defeat; Civilian Operators; Military Operators; Preserved Junkers Ju 52/3ms; Appendices; Lufthansa Ju 52/3ms; Luftwaffe Ju 52/3m units; A.A.C.1 Production List; A.A.C.1 Production List; Bibliography.
