Is this an early JU52?

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 26 Dec 2006 08:00

I've been trying to dig up some information on the wartime service of my paternal grandfather in WWII.

My grandfather is the one standing and closest to the camera. He served in a Luftwaffe training school, and was killed in Holland in 1945. I've looked at the list of training schools here:

http://www.ww2.dk/air/schule.html

Not much luck though, given the scant information I've got and the large amount of schools! I found this picture in an old album, and scanned it. The aircraft looks like one of the early JU52's built with only one engine, but the registration on the wings don't match any of the ones listed here:

http://www.scramble.nl/wiki/index.php?t ... s_Ju-52/1m

Apparently all the one engined JU52's were used as target tugs, so this falls in line with the training school service, but I'm wondering if any of the experts on this site can add any additional information ... (is the aircraft even a JU52 or am I barking up the wrong tree?)

Cheers!
Stephen

Tapani K. · Post by **Tapani K.** » 26 Dec 2006 08:45

Hello,

the plane looks like a Junkers W-34.

regards,
Tapani K.

kstdk · Post by **kstdk** » 26 Dec 2006 09:41

Hello

It IS a Ju W-34

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers

Regards
Kurt
kstdk

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 26 Dec 2006 10:09

Excellent! Thank you gentlemen! ... I never suspected the Junkers W-33 or W-34 perhaps because of a prejudiced bias towards the more well known JU52.

Turns out after a google search that the Junkers W-34 was a very popular bush plane in my present neck of the woods ... northern central British Columbia (small world, eh!).

Unfortunately, this doesn't make my research any easier

I was hoping that a rare JU52 would narrow the field somewhat.

Can any other hints be gleaned from this picture?

Auseklis · Post by **Auseklis** » 26 Dec 2006 10:46

Maybe...
The registration number and thatfore the unit and probably the place where this shot was taken...
I read WL-OK(T or L?)U

WL- does tell us that this picture was made between Jan. 1939 and Oct. 1939

Can someone with the right book at hand please look it up?

JPK · Post by **JPK** » 26 Dec 2006 11:36

Have a look at:
http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stam-wl.html
WL-OKAM......W33
WL-OKDM......W34
WL-OKYH .....W33
WL-OKYZ......W34
Regards
JPK

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 29 Dec 2006 09:31

Well, going from the reg # and looking at the site that JPK posted (thank you!), I narrowed down the training schools a bit. Assuming (and even this may be a bit optimistic!) that reg numbers may perhaps be close for similar aircraft assigned to a particular school, then this one matches rather well...

http://www.ww2.dk/air/schule/ffsab52.htm

Since my Grandfather met my Grandmother in Danzig, as that is where her family is from and his family is from much closer to the original establishment of this particular school, and also added to this the fact that my GF was killed (as I have been told) in Holland in 1945.

I'll have to look a little closer into the 10 and 11 FG divisions ...

Auseklis · Post by **Auseklis** » 29 Dec 2006 09:42

Didn't the WASt Information on your grandfather containt that data?

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 29 Dec 2006 10:06

What is WASt information? ... I imagine that this is some kind of armed forces document?

I have a bit of a tenuous connection with my grandfathers side of the family. My father has very recently passed away, and this sort of triggered my search regarding his side of the family ... It's a bit of a complicated tale though.

Auseklis · Post by **Auseklis** » 29 Dec 2006 14:28

Look here, it takes a while but it is worth the waiting.

http://www.dd-wast.de/

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 29 Dec 2006 19:35

My understanding is that my grandfather wasn't declared dead until 1954, and his remains then moved from Holland to Germany. I'll pursue this link though, thank you!

Auseklis · Post by **Auseklis** » 29 Dec 2006 22:15

If you follow the procedure, you will find a check-box for military-career record. If you check this, you get a list with all registred commands of the person (after half a year and for a fee of $20-30).That service is offerd for all relatives of members of the german armed forces from 1871-1945, no matter when they died.

Willy_2 · Post by **Willy_2** » 30 Dec 2006 04:36

Excellent! Thank you!

cheers,
Stephen

faf_476 · Post by **faf_476** » 31 Dec 2006 20:14

Was that plane crashed from a mission or something!?
Coz, as u can see the plane is inverted. tnx

Cantankerous · Post by **Cantankerous** » 17 Sep 2023 00:02

Willy_2 wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2006 10:09
Excellent! Thank you gentlemen! ... I never suspected the Junkers W-33 or W-34 perhaps because of a prejudiced bias towards the more well known JU52.

Turns out after a google search that the Junkers W-34 was a very popular bush plane in my present neck of the woods ... northern central British Columbia (small world, eh!).

Unfortunately, this doesn't make my research any easier I was hoping that a rare JU52 would narrow the field somewhat.

Can any other hints be gleaned from this picture?

The Junkers W33 differed from the W34 in being used for cargo transport, and the Ju 52/1m had circular windows unlike the W34 and Ju 52/3m.

Axis History Forum

Is this an early JU52?

Is this an early JU52?

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