As dawn broke on April 26, 1937, the hum of Junkers Ju 52s pierced the stillness over Gerrikaraiz. Emerging from the pioneering mind of Hugo Junkers, these aircraft, with their corrugated metal skins and distinctive ‘double wing’ design represented a leap from the all-metal Junkers F-13 to the Ju 52, a symbol of 1930s aviation prowess.
The Condor Legion, preparing for a sinister task, had halted briefly to arm themselves. These Ju 52s, now instruments of warfare, were a far cry from their civilian origins, transformed from commercial airliners into armored bombers.
By 4:30pm, the first wave of these trimotors, their engines echoing the advances of the BMW 132, a descendant of Pratt & Whitney’s design, climbed to the skies. Shadows of the 1st and 2nd Squadrons stretched over Vitoria-Gasteiz, signaling a looming threat. Soon after, the 3rd Squadron joined, completing a fleet of twenty-nine aircraft.
As the sky turned to dusk, the formation, a mix of commercial ingenuity and military modification, converged over Guernica. The town, oblivious to its fate, was moments away from witnessing the Ju 52s’ transformation from connecting continents to delivering destruction.
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omg i thought this was a video about the war use NOT A HISTORY LESSON. The dark channels are getting worse if i wanted a history lesson id go back to school 20+ yrs after i left
glad Ford let germany use so many of their products and plants. bomber crews were instructed to not bomb certain plants that Ford leased to germany.
In the 1990s I had the good fortune to get a ride on D-AQUI, a Ju 52 originally built in 1936 and then being operated by Lufthansa Airlines on a promotional tour around the country. The airplane had been restored to beautiful condition and was fitted with taupe leather seating for 17 passengers (plus 3 crew: pilot, co-pilot, steward).
It was a little concerning before takeoff to see the pilot climb out on the wing to check the fuel level with what appeared to be a wooden yardstick. But returning from a 45-minute flight out of San Jose/Mineta Airport, it was even more disconcerting to notice that the automobile traffic on Hwy 880/17 was passing us! In landing configuration with the flaps lowered, the Ju 52 slows to approx. 62 mph (100 kph). It's top speed in optimal conditions and level flight is about 155 mph (260 kph), while a modest 130 mph (209 kph) is a practical and more economical cruising speed.
I understand Lufthansa had plans to turn D-AQUI into a static display at their headquarters in Germany, but may have changed their minds as it's now undergoing another, even more extensive restoration.
I never thought of the Ju 52 as weird or strange, always thought it was an attractive airplane, even if a bit unusual with the tri-motor arrangement. Its failed successor, the Ju 352, now THAT was weird looking and ugly!
I was flying with Lufthansa a few years ago and I saw in their in flight magazine that they still have one JU 52 on their books.I guess it's just used for special flights assuming it's still in action.
Aunty Ju, is most memorable one 😊
My great uncle, who flew P-51s and was killed in the midair breakup of his aircraft caused by sloppy repair work in 1944, had only one confirmed kill – an unescorted Ju-52. It haunted him the (short) rest of his life, because he knew the people inside had no chance at all. But it was an enemy aircraft, and he knew it was his duty to destroy it regardless of anything else.
My maternal grandfather, Stuart J. McRorie, flew a Ju-52/1m that was owned by Canadian Airlines; CF-ARM. It flew on wheels, floats and skis. The story goes that when CA took delivery of it, it was accompanied by a young, Junkers mechanic. My grandfather would bring him along home for supper sometimes. He was apparently good looking and very well mannered. My mother and aunts, as teenaged girls, were quite infatuated with the guy. It turned out he was working as a Nazi spy, and fled the country just before the Mounties could arrest him. The original aircraft was scrapped shortly after Canadian Pacific amalgamated with Canadian Airways. There's a replica of it now in a Canadian flight museum.
What I find strange about the JU52 is, the two outboard engines/nacelles are actually splayed away from the fuselage, if the plane is viewd at plan form. I remember wanting to build a model of the Ju52 when I was a kid, but when I realized that the engines have this strange splayed angle, I lost interest in the plane and never got a model of it, because I thought it would not look good, because of it
I remember seeing Lufthansa’s Tante Ju fly off from SFO. It was a nice sight.
Others that I saw there were a B-25 sitting next to a QANTAS 747, a Dumbo (Catalina) drift up into the air as it took off and then at Moffett being on the tarmac as NASA’s U2 jump almost straight up into the sky.
Germany, no it weren't sure what to do with that their plain. So it done took and putted stuff insides it.
Please explain what the "double wing" is. You mentioned it more than once, but didn't explain what it is, or why it is significant.
This plane is a "mono" plane, as you stated. That means it only has a single wing, vs. a "bi"plane, which has two wings.
Technically, this plane does have two wings, one on the left and one on the right. However, they are symmetrical, on the same plane.
Enjoyable video, just wondering what the title means? The Germans had zero problems finding things for their Ju-52s to do. Not sure where the strange comes in either.
Wasn’t
Ford trimotor or junkers first?
DC3 Dakota will always fly in our hearts…
'Germany weren't…'???
Looked like a flying tool shed, still was an irreplaceable workhorse.
anything made by somebody else than you is strange, isn't it?
Ford tri- motor a copy or inspiration
Isn't it strange that the German Nazis' iconic airplane is a JŪ?
Hey Dark dude… I'm curious to know why you're so insecure about your channels getting views and comments (even very negative ones) to the point you now intentionally misspell simple words in every video on every dark channel and you also seem to have lost the ability to write a proper sentence and seem to get off insulting my and other folks intelligence. I also want to know why you have become addicted to clickbait titles? Your videos are terrible anymore. The only ones who think you're great in the comments are 12 year olds who haven't learned world history in school yet. Are you blonde?😂 If you're happy with people thinking you're an idiot….keep on keeping on. I've been a subscriber for years, but I'm on the verge of losing my SH?T and unsubbing from ALL of your channels once and for all.
Edit > I know you'll never answer my questions because you never respond to anybody but if this comment only gets 1 like, it will be worth it.
A wonderful channel that deserves the best regards, appreciation, admiration and pride. It provides accurate and useful information. I thank you for all the beautiful words and sincere feelings for your distinguished posts. I wish you continued success and all the best. My utmost respect and appreciation
CHARMING DOCUMENTARY .. VERY BEAUTIFUL
Dreadful narration & dreadful mangling of the English language makes this video unwatchable.
Blohm and Voss has entered the conversation.
One correction: the Spanish Civil War brought no end to the Ju-52's use as a bomber. There were a few bombing raids during September 1939 German invasion of Poland done using them. For example, on 25 Sep '39 about 30 Ju-52 bombed Warsaw with incendiary bombs. As a proof, one of urban folk songs (emerging from lower class society, typically joking and lighthearted to alleviate the mood of a city at war) from Sep 39 mentions: Up there there'a bomber, a three-engined bomber / he rules now, glad with the hell he sends down upon us– so the folk must have seen and associated Ju-52's with air raids.
Interesting how both USA & Britain provided different powerplants to improve its efficiency.
Why don’t you try saying 700 hp horsepower? That way you don’t sound like you’re an idiot.
According to Wikipedia's article on the Ju-52, there are a handful of these aircraft still that are still operational today, being used for sightseeing and aerial displays.
Do you want to try rewriting that title so that it makes sense? In this instance Germany is singular, not plural. You have a choice in how you express doubts by Germany or Germans about this plane. Meanwhile drop the caps except for the first word.
1)
Change Germany to Germans (plural) so that : "The Germans were not sure what to do with….."
or
2)
With Germany (singular) we have : "Germany was not sure what to do with"…..
Considering powered flight had not even occurred at the beginning of the century, the pace of subsequent aeronautical engineering progress never fails to astound.
Thank you for sharing.🙂🙂
That takeoff at 12:38! 😲
Man, the literacy rate is in serious trouble! The word in the title should be "Wasn't."
This was designed after the 1925 Ford Tri-Motor, which was made until 1933, but was used as a transport and bomber in WWII. The difference is the Ju 52 was biger than the Ford Tri-Motor, they were designed the same.
But was unable to perform valuable re-supply missions to the degree needed for modern warfare….. just saying ? Thx. 👍
Why where the wing engine pods an engines at an angle to the aircraft centre line, any one know ?
After my Grandfather was wounded on the Eastern Front in 1943, he was flown out on one of these.
00:46
"… trimotors, their engines echoing the advances of the BMW-132…"
Footage shows a Jumo 211 on a Heinkel He-111, not a Ju-52.
01:17
"…[Guernica] was moments away from witnessing the Ju-52's transformation from connecting continents to delivering destruction…"
Footage is a cockpit shot of what appears to be an He-111 during a bomb drop.
04:35
"… the visionary mind behind [the Ju-52] faced a bitter fate…"
So true and virtually nobody knows the story about how the Nazis forcibly took control his companies, forced him out of them under house arrest and stole his scores of patents. People see his name on the Ju-87 'Stuka" and the Ju-88 fighter bomber and have no idea that Hugo Junkers had nothing to do with either.
The Hugo Junkers story alone would rate a decent documentary. IMHO Hugo Junkers and Otto Mader rarely get the recognition they deserve for the remarkable aviation and engine achievements made by the Junkers companies.
Like the Heinkel He-70 'Blitz' and the Focke-Wulf FW-200 'Condor', the Ju-52 was intended for civilian operations but pressed into military service. Unlike the Blitz and Condor, it provided exemplary service throughout the war, but like most transports it was effectively defenseless against fighter aircraft.
For all its accomplishments and the history behind it the Ju-52/3m was the end of the pioneering Junkers corrugated duralumin metal airframe. By 1935 the Douglas DC-3 emerged and it represented yet another revolution in civil aviation.
Thanks for making this video.
That the Germans weren’t*
Really interesting thank you posting
The JU 52 was Germany's copy of the Fords try motor !
Where the hell Karnacac?
Incredible and amazing aircraft. Not many tri-motor planes that were successful.