The Junkers Ju 52 was an early tri-motor transport plane known primarily for its use by Germany during World war 2
However, it was initially designed as a passenger and cargo aircraft, and it served in almost every role during the war.
From carrying civilian passengers and Nazi paratroopers, to bombs, cargo, and even minesweeping equipment, it could do almost everything.
The Ju 52, nicknamed Tante Ju (Aunt Ju), quickly became the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s transport fleet, becoming to Germany what the DC-3 was to the United States Army Air Force.
Here are 10 fast facts about Tante Ju that you probably didn’t know!
#10. Three Different Countries Manufactured the Ju 52
It was originally built in Germany for Deutsche Lufthansa, but production continued after the war elsewhere.
France produced the JU-52 from 1945-1947 and Spain produced it from 1945-1952.
#9. Almost 5,000 Ju-52’s Were Built
A total of 4,845 Ju 52’s were built of all types.
Production lasted over 20 years, starting in 1931 in Germany and ending with the final Spanish built planes in 1952.
Some users of the Junkers Ju 52, most notably Norwegian Air lines, attached floats to the aircraft and used them for passenger travel.
#8. It Was Originally Built as a Single Engine Aircraft
The Ju-52 was designed to use a single engine, either a BMW IV or Junkers V-12
The performance was disappointing, and only the first 7 prototypes were built with a single engine.
All of the subsequent Ju 52’s produced used a trio of BMW 132 air-cooled radial engines.
#7. Their BMW 132 Engines Were License Built Pratt & Whitney Engines
BMW received a license to produce the nine-cylinder P&W R-1690 Hornet engine in 1928.
Soon afterwards, they modernized and updated the design, resulting in the BMW 132, which was then fitted to the Ju-52 and several other designs.
On the Ju 52, the BMW 132 engines used a 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller and was rated at 725 horsepower each.
#6. The Ju-52 Served in Combat Before World War 2
Due to its early development, the Ju 52 was widely sold overseas, and several countries used them in military conflicts before the start of WW2.
Columbia equipped several Ju 52 with floats, and used them as bombers during the Colombia-Peru war of 1932-1933.
Around the same time, Bolivia used Ju-52’s as transports during the Chaco War of 1932-1935.
It was also widely used as a bomber and transport during the Spanish Civil War starting in 1936, leading to our next fact…
#5. The Ju 52 Participated in the First Large Scale Carpet Bombing
The first mass bombing of civilians by aircraft occurred during the Spanish Civil War.
18 Ju-52 bombers participated in the bombing of Guernica, a Basque town in the northern part of Spain, on April 26, 1937.
The bombing caused much controversy, resulting in war crimes accusations, and inspired Pablo Picasso to paint his famous work, Guernica.
#4. It was the Chosen Plane of Several World Leaders
