Junkers Ju 52

The Junkers Ju 52 (called Auntie Ju in German, Aunt Ju in French or Iron Annie in English), was a Transport aircraft in corrugated Tôle manufactured by the German firm Junkers as from the years 1930. Built with more than 4800 specimens, it was used by many airline companies, but also like transport aircraft military and bomber during the Second world war. Proof of its robustness, three specimens of the Junkers Ju 52 were used by the company Swiss Air until in the years 1980.

Design

At the origin conceived like a civil transport aircraft single-engined aircraft, the first Junkers Ju 52 fact his inaugural flight in September 1930. Its corrugated sheet structure then brings to him a new robustness for the time, but the plane under-is clearly motorized. Also, as of April 1931, the seventh specimen of Ju 52 receives 2 additional engines on the wings, and has 3 then Pratt & Whitney Hornet of 550 horses. Able to transport 17 passengers, the Junkers Ju 52 enters in service in 1932 the Lufthansa and is the subject quickly of orders of other airline companies.

The Luftwaffe proclamation quickly its interest for the Junkers Ju 52, qu ' it intends at the same time for the military transport (of material or parachutists) and for the bombardment. A special version is thus built as from 1934, able to carry 1500 kg of bombs as well as machine-guns to ensure its defense. Although the plane was used largely during the Second world war, its low speed and its very limited armament left him only little chance vis-a-vis enemy planes, which partly explains the high number of specimens lost during the conflict. The capacity of the Junkers Ju 52 to operate starting from short and summarily arranged tracks was extremely appreciated.

Many versions of the Junkers Ju 52 were built during all the Second world war, with increasingly powerful engines, better electronics components (radio, etc) or special equipment like skis to land on snow. Manufacture was distributed between several factories located in Germany, France and Hungary. After the war, the France and the Spain built their own versions, indicated respectively AAC.1 Toucan and CASA 352 , and used until the beginning of the year 1960.

Engagements

The Junkers Ju 52 make their first military missions during the Guerre of Spain, within the Légion Condor. They are then used at the same time as transport aircraft and as bomber S. It plays then a decisive part at the time of the airborne operations of the beginning of the Second world war in the Benelux countries in 1940 and against the Crete in 1941, even if the losses quickly become important.

The Toucan French were used as transport aircraft of troop and for parachuting during the Guerre of Indo-China, with the beginning of the year 1950. Slower and less comfortable than American C-47 also employed by the Air force, it had a shorter takeoff and a train fixes more solid than that (retractable) of Dakota.

Junkers JU 52 were used during the Guerre of Algeria of 1956 to 1960 in both " Saharan groups of Recognition and Appui" n° 76 and 78. They made it possible to carry out very many reconnaissance missions, of transport, medical research SATER and evacuations. They ensured of the detachments Gabès, Télergma, Biskra, Rémada, Touggourt, El Goléa, Ft Flatters, Polignac, Edjeleh, Tindouf, Adrar. Missions were regularly carried out in Tamanrasset, In Eker, Salah, Bir Djedid etc They were then yielded to Portugal.

Country users

Civil users:

Military users:

Alternatives

  • Ju 52/1m of: first version single-engined aircraft (6 specimens)

  • Ju-52/3m it: first version three-engined for the Germany, the Finland and the Sweden
  • Ju-52/3m it: version three-engined for the Bolivia
  • Ju 52/3m Ge: first version largely built with 3 engines BMW 132A-1 of 660 horses
  • Ju 52/3m g3e: 3 engines BMW 132A-3 of 725 horses and other improvements
  • Ju 52/3m g4e: back caster and other improvements
  • Ju 52/3m g5e: 3 engines BMW 132T-2 of 830 horses and other improvements
  • Ju 52/3m g6e: nearly identical to the g5e
  • Ju 52/3m g7e: addition of a Autopilot and other improvements
  • Ju 52/3m g8e: 3 engines BMW 132Z and other improvements
  • Ju 52/3m g9e: landing gear reinforced
  • Ju 52/3m g10e:
  • Ju 52/3m g12e : 3 engines BMW 132L of 800 horses
  • Ju 52/3m g14e: addition of a shielding to protect the pilots, defensive armament reinforced
  • Ju-52/3m ms “Mausi”: plane bomb disposal expert (thanks to a large aluminum circle installed under the plane and in which circulated of the electric current, it exploded the magnetic mines)
  • Ju 52/3mW W for “Wasser” (water): it is a seaplane
  • AAC.1 Toucan: version built in France after the war (400 specimens)
  • CASA 352: version built in Spain after the war (170 specimens)

On the 4850 produced specimens, approximately two thirds were intended for the Luftwaffe.

See too

  • List of the military aircrafts

External bonds

  • To fly in '' Ju-52 '' (from [[aerodrome of Schleissheim])]

Random links:Manneville-be-lime pits | Pierre Tremblay (actor) | Joseph Franz von Lobkowitz | Akadi | Residence (medicine) | Alfonso_V_de_León