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junkers ju-52

Junkers JU-52

Written by: William L. Powell
Published: WED - Unofficial homepage
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 1999

Facts
Span: 95 ft., 11 1/2 in.
Length: 62 ft. 0 in.
Height: 18 ft. 2 1/2 in.
Weight: 24,250 lbs. loaded
Armament: Four 7.9mm machine guns
Engines: Three BMW 132T-2 engines of 830 hp. ea.
Maximum speed: 178 mph.
Cruising speed: 134 mph.
Range: 810 miles
Service Ceiling: 19,360 ft.

About

The JU-52 trimotor, like the USAF C-47, was first built in the 1930s yet remained in service for more than a quarter century. This transport made its maiden flight in April 1931 and three years later a heavy bomber version appeared. The latter aircraft formed the nucleus of the Luftwaffe's infant bomber force in the mid-1930s and it was used during the Spanish Civil War.

The JU-52 was obselete as a bomber by 1939, but because of its durability, simplicity of design, and handling characteristics it continued to serve throughout WW II as a versatile workhorse of the German transport fleet. For a period, Adolf Hitler 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 Netherlands in 1940. Almost 500 JU-52s participated in the historic airborne assualt on the island of Crete in May 1941 and Junkers later supplied Rommel's armored forces in North Africa.

The aircraft used in the motion picture 'Where Eagles Dare', number CN 4V, was borrowed from the Austrian military airforce and re-painted in alpine camouflage exclusively for this purpose.

User Comments:

Thomas Raymann (2002-10-13)

Hi The comment that the JU52 is from the Austrian Air Force is not correct. The JU52 used for the movie was one of three used by the Swiss Air Force until the 1980's for army parachute training. The plane was hired out, resprayed and caused quite a comotion among older Austrians when flying over Salzburg in old paintwork and with swastikas! One of the three JU52 crash landed in the 80's at DŸbendorf Airfield near Zurich. Not sure if it was recommissioned. The other two planes where taken over by a private company (Classic Air, DŸbendorf?) that offer flights over the alps in the JU's for a horrendous price. I think they are booked out 1-2 years in advance. Thomas Raymann

jonathan strickland (2003-08-29)

The Ju-52 used in WED had the civillian code of HB-HOT. The code is visible under the horizontal tail planes and will be easy to see in the opening scenes of the DVD. HB-HOT is indeed SWISS (not Austrian, please go ahead and update your site). HB-HOT is now coded A-702 and is still flying today as one of the stable of JU-52s flown by Ju-Air.

Greg McCreanor (2004-02-25)

I'm surprised that no-one has commented on the fact that it would be absolutely impossible for a JU52 to fly from the closest point in England to the Austrian border and back. Unless it was fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks ( which it isn't ). So if the JU52 didn't have enough fuel to return to England after dropping the team at the beginning of the movie, then the JU52 at the end of the movie must've been an identical replica of the first one with a clone/identical twin of Vincent Ball ... but it still wouldn't have been able to get back to England. Is this why there wasn't a sequel ?

??????? (2004-03-27)

i think the ju might have landed at a sercret airbase near the castle after the beggining and before the end . but your right it could not have flown all the way from England to austria and back

Steve W. (2004-04-11)

I thought the same until I remembered that Col. Turner was in the plane for the rescue...which means the plane had to have gone back to England. I believe it's called "artistic license." In other words, we shouldn't ask questions like this!

greene (2004-06-30)

maybe they had a fuel up in swiss

General Carnaby (2004-08-23)

I think if they flew to a great enough altitude, they could have glided all the way back to England.

jason Lee (2004-12-12)

I am currently building a model of a JU52 and would like to use the Austrian Camouflouge pattern as used in the film. Dose anyoneknow the correct colours used. Think it was flat white with olive green. If anyone can shed any light on this, it would be much apprecitaed....Thanks

Nick (2005-03-04)

The crash-landing of the JU52 in the 80's can't have ben that bad: i live near Dübendorf and can't remember having heard of it. However, three Ju-52 are in service and belong to Ju-Air, Dübendorf. They charge about USD 100 for a 40 minute flight.

Dragonfly (2005-06-03)

I too am building a model of this aircraft and having difficulty finding a good example of the camo pattern used in the movie. What I'm finding out is that apparantly, no Luftwaffe aircraft wore these markings, and that this plane is nothing more than a prop. However, these markings would be extremely effective when flying over mountains, and that is what has attracted me to this particular Ju-52. Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter?

Dragonfly

chris (2005-07-29)

Hi there does anybody known where i can get an exact replica model kit for this aircraft many thanks.

Wes Maddox (2005-09-21)

Great Movie, Great Web Site!

Andrew Colgan (2005-11-23)

The German model maufacturer Revell produce a 1:72 scale Junkers 52, a fantastic model which I bought spcifically to paint as the film version. I have not been able to find any references to the camouflage scheme, so am just going to have to use film stills. So it looks likely that the camouflage was specifically for the film. Cool site by the way.

alpowolf (2005-12-21)

In the book (I know, nobody reads those anymore) the plane used was a British Lancaster 4-engine bomber, and both the parachute drop and pickup were done in the dark. For a movie of course that wouldn't do, and of course for a daylight pickup a German plane would be needed, and I guess a JU-52 fit the bill best. It sure looks great, and I'm thinking about doing a model in the movie colors too, even though I haven't modeled in years. BTW great site.

han von undersust (2006-01-14)

The Junkers JU-52 used in where Eagles Dare is vintage!! Used in WWII!!! I flew it!

Clint Eastwood (2006-01-14)

This site need some brushing up I dont look right!!

Adrian Carter (2006-01-14)

Great site! Where Eagles Dare is my favorite movie! I used some stills off the site to paint my Revell Ju-52..... Keep up the great work!!!!!

Eddy Smith (2006-02-04)

The aircraft used in in where eagles dare is a nice plane. But the camo is not authentic. But hey its cool looking! Probably vey affective in mountain terrain. Does any one know where I can get a die-cast of it?? Great site!!

adrian Carter (2006-03-14)

I have finnished my ju-52.. and it looks great! I used the colors flate white and olive green to get the sheme right. Paint the tops of the engine covers black for good detail. The revell has inaccurate gun positions... Inaccurate to the movie anyway so I guess you could leave them out. but I added them in for extra flair. I think their is some kid making stupid entries in this article might want to ckeck up on it....
AC

adrian Carter (2006-03-14)

Graham S (2006-04-16)

I've also finished making a 1:72 model ju-53 by revelle and its looking really good, the only 2 problems are that i did mine in matt black instead of olive green as many others have done it in, and the other problem is that i dont have the correct decals for the aircraft (correct to WED; CN4V or any swastikers) so at the moment its bare, does anybody know where i can get decals that match the actual plane used in the film and like the one pictured in the artical? Hopefully somebody will be able to help me out?? Thanks, Graham

Dennis Moran (2006-04-27)

This has nothing to do with JU-52's, but rather, relates to the stated use of the name of a race car driver (von Brauchitsch) as a character name in the novel. Manfed von Brauchitsch, who drove for Mercedes, had an even more famous uncle that the author was likely thinking of: Walther von Brauchitsch, who was head of the High Command of the German Army.

Adrian Carter (2006-05-14)

Dear, Graham s Your plea for help has been answered! After I had the same problem with the wrong decals I went on a custum decal site where you design your own decal's and they ship it to you. Good luck google search it...

AC

Adrian Carter (2006-05-14)

(2006-07-12)

Cheers AC! I'll go n have a look around for that website ya mentioned, thanks very much!
Graham

James Townsend (2006-09-18)

the plane in the book is an avro lancaster, the workhourse of RAF Bomber command during the war which could have managed switzerland and back i think!

Ronald (2006-10-03)

Gentlemen, one of you mentioned a company that produces custom made decals. I've tried to google it but couldn't find it. Would someone be so kind to add the URL of any company who does this kind of work? Thanks in advance, Ronald

Tim (2006-10-05)

I recall seeing a Ju52 parked at Blackbushe airport in Hampshire in the late 1970s, this i believe was joined by another some time afterwards.What a thrill it was then as i was a lifetime fan of WED after seeing it at the age of 9 around 1969. Many years later approx 1989 i recall seeing the actual plane flying at "The Fighter Meet" at North Weald in Essex it was bearing white paintwork and the Swiss crosses from memory.Seem to remember the commentator saying the plane was the actual one from the film. Keep up the good work!.

Mike Stewart (2007-01-09)

there WAS a JU52 at North Weald Airfield for a number of years.I know,I was there,on and even guarded it.
It was under the charge of 'Aces High' a film/vintage aircraft company based at North Weald.
It was shipped out to Kermit Weekes in Florida.
I'm not sure,but I believe Kermit has restored it back to flying condition.
Mike Stewart,Police Constable 1356,Bermuda Police.

Mike Stewart (2007-01-09)

jimmy white (2007-01-14)

Hey Mike Stewart you are the dumbest s.o.b .I know!!!

Tyrone Trimmings (2007-02-09)

Just found this site after watching WED again.A tradition I have when we have any snow here in southern England (not very often!)Anyway,concur with previous about JU-52 at Blackbushe beeing the one in the film.I would also like the URL of decal co that can create any decals.

Slo727 (2008-02-28)

Very happy to see this superb site again! If someone is interested, Extreme Outdoor Clothing is still making the WED reversible german parka.

Our Top Agent (2008-03-03)

I read that there is a JU-52 used in the new Tom Cruise film "VALKYRIE" where Cruise plays the part of Col Claus Von Strauffenberg in his attempt to assassinate Hitler during WWII, is this the same one as used in WED ?

Mike Stewart (2008-04-12)

attention of the asshole using the name jimmy white. however you are,you are a complete and utter asshole,to try to spoil other genuine interested people's comments and indeed this site is the work of an idiot.

Adrian Carter (2008-05-30)

I to have seen the trailer for Valkyrie and see a ju-52 though it is painted in metallic colors It is probably a prop or cg movie companies are lazy these days...

Adrian Carter (2008-05-30)

I to have seen the trailer for Valkyrie and see a ju-52 though it is painted in metallic colors It is probably a prop or cg movie companies are lazy these days...

Adrian Carter (2008-05-30)

Also on another note mike stewart is being vulgar and rude to some poor chap and I dont really want to have to read his offensive comments can someone PLEASE block this spammer!

ronnie (2008-08-17)

Hi,the are 2 Ju52`s featured in the Tom Cruise Movie Valkryie. Both were Genuine Aircraft NOT cgi. i was lucky enough to have worked on the movie and see them up close.

Tim Hills (2008-09-14)

WW2 Ju52s were camouflaged as follows: two-tone green 'splinter' on top,light blue underneath.White distemper was applied as winter camouflage at unit level,often leaving patches of green visible.The unit code 'CN+4V' is interesting in that it's a reversal of a genuine code - 4V+CN would be correct and I think that the film makers used a well known photo of a '52 on the Russian front as inspiration, right down to the tactical code '9' on the tail. Shame they didn't get it quite right - Nice try!

FinnJake (2008-10-18)

Hi! Great film and great site! Thanks. There is also Flight simulator version of the JU-52 on the film! (same camoufalage and unit code)

jimmy white (2009-04-14)

Hey Mike Stewart you are the dumbest s.o.b. I know!!!

Puhelin (2009-08-21)

Hi! Great site for a great film! Keep up the great work!! =)

Tony Crews (2009-10-08)

Are there larger images of the pics on this page, where can we get them? They are superb!

Max Aileron (2010-08-09)

... and let no-one forget the great music score that went behind the title sequence at the beginning. Composed by Ron Goodwin (he of 633 Squadron theme fame) if memory serves.

Prasad Iyer (2010-08-26)

Where Eagles Dare is, no doubt, a thrilling movie but the events portrayed in it are highly improbable. In the movie the Germans are easily bested by Eastwood and Burton. Were the Germans so incompetent? For example when Clint Eastwood enters the hall where the cable car machinery is located it is completely deserted and unguarded. Would the Germans have left it totally unguarded if it was a real situation and not a movie set?

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