Junkers JU52/3m Italeri-102 aircraft

Description

The Junkers Ju-52/3m was produced by the renowned German aircraft company since the early 1930s, initially intended for civilian use with Lufthansa and other major commercial carriers. It was notable for its three-engine configuration and distinctive metal fuselage covered by corrugated metal panels. This robust and reliable aircraft was quickly adopted also in the military field by the Luftwaffe, which used it mainly as a transport aircraft. The Ju-52, affectionately nicknamed “Tante Ju” (Aunt Ju), was employed on all operational fronts throughout the war and was the mainstay of German military logistics in supply operations for ground troops. In addition, it was used in airborne troop dropping missions, being famously used to drop paratroopers in the Netherlands in 1940 and in Crete in 1941.