Ju-52 "Lost Air Force"?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Tomo - 28 Oct 2004 21:48 GMT

I had purchased Blue Rider decals BR506 "Croatian Air Force 1941-1945".
Among other subjects there are decals for an Ju-52, however no profile, or
decal placement instructions for it are provided. There is only statement on
instructions "Junkers Ju-52, Eichwalde, East Prussia, November 1944".
I'm wondering from where Blue Rider got references for this Ju-52?
Aeromaster on their decal sheet 48279 "Stuka bombers part III" have Ju-87R-2
with croatian markings and caption "Croatian Legion, Luftflotte 6, Russia,
August 1944".

Personaly I find hard to bellive that there were elements of Luftwaffe that
actually didn't have german markings, however Blue Rider and Aeromaster are
no jokers either.

Did anybody ever saw any kind of proof that this aircrafts ever existed, in
this markings, on Eastern front?

Thanks Tomislav

Reply to this Message

William H. Shuey - 29 Oct 2004 04:15 GMT

> I had purchased Blue Rider decals BR506 "Croatian Air Force 1941-1945".
> Among other subjects there are decals for an Ju-52, however no profile, or
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Thanks Tomislav

Tomislav:

    When the Germans went into the Balkans in 1941 they quickly found the
situation more difficult than they had expected. In hopes of saving the
situation and getting some help against Russia they started exploiting
the old rivalries in the Balkans and recruiting Balkan allies. The
Croatians were ready to enlist and there were Croatian air and ground
units formed. In addition to Ju-87 and Ju-52 units, there was a bomber
squadron equipped with Dornier Do-17s and a fighter squadron attached to
JG-52 flying Messerschmitt 109's.
    In Bosnia the Germans also had success recruiting. Ever hear of the
S.S. "Handschar" Infantry Division? It was an SS division sized unit
that was famous for extreme brutality in dealing with Communist and
other Partisan units resisting the Germans.

                            Bill Shuey

Reply to this Message

agh - 29 Oct 2004 08:22 GMT

> When the Germans went into the Balkans in 1941 they quickly found the
> Croatians were ready to enlist and there were Croatian air and ground

Since he's from Croatia, I'm sure he knows all this better than yourself,
don't you think? :)
Situation is more complicated than you describe since Croatians also played
a major part in partisan movement..

> units formed. In addition to Ju-87 and Ju-52 units, there was a bomber
> squadron equipped with Dornier Do-17s and a fighter squadron attached to
> JG-52 flying Messerschmitt 109's.

His question was about the markings because, as I understand, they don't
provide the German markings.. I've seen markings of Bf-109s flown by this
Croatian unit (few pilots were very succesful, having over 30 victories;
some of them deserted to the Russians and fought for them til the end of
war), but never saw any Stuka or Ju-52 markings of those units..

> In Bosnia the Germans also had success recruiting. Ever hear of the
> S.S. "Handschar" Infantry Division? It was an SS division sized unit
> that was famous for extreme brutality in dealing with Communist and
> other Partisan units resisting the Germans.

This was enlisted from Muslim population in Bosnia. And very quickly there
were no non-communist partisan groups. You were either with them or against
them later on.

Reply to this Message

Jimbo D - 29 Oct 2004 09:32 GMT

I believe the USAAF used some Ju52's around the Italian area Late WW2 and
they were designated with a C number ? would make an interesting subject
but have never seen any pictures of one. Has anyone seen any pics of one or
better still a site. regards JimboD

> > When the Germans went into the Balkans in 1941 they quickly found the
> > Croatians were ready to enlist and there were Croatian air and ground
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> were no non-communist partisan groups. You were either with them or against
> them later on.

Reply to this Message

Royabulgaf - 30 Oct 2004 02:24 GMT

>I believe the USAAF used some Ju52's around the Italian area Late WW2

The USAAF did have a couple Ju-52s commandeered from a local airline in Panama
during WWII. They replaced the engines and instruments with US standard units,
and also received a C-number.. The Squadron "Ju-52 In Action" issued a year or
two ago has a paragraph and a couple photos on them. Kim M

Reply to this Message

Mark Schynert - 31 Oct 2004 01:50 GMT

> >I believe the USAAF used some Ju52's around the Italian area Late WW2
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> or
> two ago has a paragraph and a couple photos on them. Kim M

Ju 52/3m captured and pressed into American service were never listed as
C-79, since they were not acquired as part of an official procurement
process. The sole C-79 was acquired from Sindicato Condor in Brazil in
May 1942, and was used during the war in Panama and Costa Rica.
Reference: "U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909,"
John M. Andrade, Midland Counties Publications: Earl Shilton, Leicester,
England, 1979.

Mark Schynert

Reply to this Message

Tomo - 29 Oct 2004 18:08 GMT

You understood my question right. Croatian pilots were trained in Germany.
Last "batch" however never returned. When front begin to disintegrate in
closing months of WWII they were send to fight the Soviets.
Most of aircrews and ground personnel ended as line infantry, however some
fought with Ju-87 in anti-tank role. This are facts. It is possible that
they had a Ju-52 as a logistic support. I'm wondering what proof Aeromaster
and Blue Rider have to claim that those aircrafts had full Croatian marking
instead of standard Luftwaffe? Artistic licence, science fiction, or there
is really a photo somewhere.
I have never seen Croatian Ju-52. Partisans captured two of them and shoot
down at least one. Could be that at least one of this Ju-52's was Croatian
AF and not Luftwaffe Tante Ju. But this is something else.

Reply to this Message

Model Forum / General / Models / October 2004

Ju-52 "Lost Air Force"?