Like the USAF C-47, the Junkers Ju 52 tri-motor was first built in the 1930s and remained in service for more than a quarter century. It made its maiden flight in April 1931, and three years later a heavy bomber variant entered service with the German Luftwaffe. The latter version formed the nucleus of the Luftwaffe's early bomber force, which was used with great effect during the Spanish Civil War.

By 1939, the Ju 52 was obsolete as a bomber, but because of its durability, simplicity of design, and handling characteristics, it continued to serve throughout WW II as a versatile workhorse for the German transport fleet. Adolf Hitler even used a Ju 52 as his private transport. Ju 52s delivered the attacking forces and their supplies during the German invasion of Norway, Denmark, France, and the Low Countries in 1940. Later on, approximately 500 Ju 52s participated in the historic airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941 and later supplied Rommel's panzerwaffe operating in North Africa.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Junkers Ju-52/3m transport that participated in the airborne invasion of Crete in 1941 and is now on display at the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis Museum. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 16-inches
Length: 10-1/4-inches

Release Date: December 2021

Historical Account: "La Ferte-Alais" - The La Ferte-Alais Air Show is an annual meeting of aviation enthusiasts in La Ferte-Alais, France. It takes place during Pentecost at the Cerny airfield, which is owned and operated by the "Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis" (AJ-BS). The airfield is also the site of a museum which sports an impressive number of pre-World War I up to present aircraft. The B-17 Flying Fortress The Pink Lady used in the motion picture Memphis Belle is a permanent project of the AJ-BS group.

During the show, dozens of vintage aircraft are assembled from Europe and the US for display and flight demonstrations. The French air force usually demonstrates some new air capacity (paratroops, etc.) as well as overflight by the Patrouille de France, the French aerobatic team (similar to the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds in the US). Also, Airbus or other aircraft manufacturers will fly their latest commercial aircraft, such as the A-300 series of jetliners.