Junker JU 52 story
 

What do you think of this book just published by Fonthill Media ?


Thank you very much

Alain

Re: Junker JU 52 story
 

The Ju 52 served in numerous roles around the world for several decades, so there are many books (over 20) dedicated to various aspects of its history. The new book by Jan Forsgren is a useful addition because it provides unique and detailed coverage of the following areas: foreign civilian and military use, foreign production, and preserved aircraft.

The table of contents reads as follows:

1. The Junkers Flugzeug-und Motorenwerke AG and its Predecessors (2 pages)
2. A Shift to Civilian Transport Aeroplanes (8 pages)
3. Technical Description (3 pages)
4. Ju 52/3m Airliner Operations in Germany (6 pages)
5. Lufthansa Around the World (2 pages)
6. Ju 52/3m Production in Germany (4 pages)
7. Foreign Production (15 pages - see notes below)
8. Further Development (3 pages)
9. Into Luftwaffe Service (4 pages)
10. Other Duties (4 pages)
11. Blitzkrieg (3 pages)
12. Operations (6 pages)
13. Stalingrad (3 pages)
14. North African Defeat (4 pages)
15. On the Retreat (2 pages)
16. Final Defeat (4 pages)
17. Civilian Operators (56 pages)
18. Military Operators (41 pages)
19. Preserved Junkers Ju 52/3ms (36 pages)

• Appendix I: Lufthansa Ju 52/3ms (6 pages)
• Appendix II: Luftwaffe Ju 52/3m Transport Units, 1939-1943 (3 pages)
• Appendix III: Luftwaffe Ju 52/3m Transport Units, May 1943-February 1945 (1 page)
• Appendix IV: AAC.1 Production List (15 pages)
• Appendix V: CASA 352 Production List (5 pages)
• Endnotes (2 pages)
• Bibliography (2 pages)
• Index (2 pages)

As you can see from the page counts, chapters 1-6 and 8-16 provide decent but basic coverage of their subject areas.

Chapter 7 is a mishmash due to editorial sloppiness. It actually covers three different subjects: Foreign Production (2.5 pages), Variants (2 pages), and operational histories of the campaigns in Spain, Poland, Denmark & Norway, and Crete (10.5 pages.) It would have made more sense to merge the Variants material into chapter 10 (Other Duties) and/or chapter 8 (Further Development.) Similarly, the operational history stuff belongs in chapters 11 and 12.

However, the real value of the book is contained in chapters 17, 18, 19, and appendices IV and V. Heinz Nowarra's book ("Aircraft & Legend: Junkers Ju 52") contained a listing of Ju 52s in foreign civilian use, but this book's listings are much more complete and detailed. I think Forsgren's listings of foreign military usage might be unique, and the information on preserved machines and foreign production looks to be comprehensive.

The book has 256 pages, plus a 16-page pictorial insert that includes 12 color photos. The photographic content (spread throughout the book) is decent in variety and quality, but not especially noteworthy.

Summary:
If you're a fan of the Ju 52 in general, or interested in its foreign use and production in particular, this is the book for you.
If you're mainly interested in the Ju 52's military service in the Luftwaffe, you'd be best served by "Classic #26: Junkers Ju 52 - A History 1930-1945" by Forsyth & Creek, as well as "Junkers Ju-52 in de Blitzkrieg" by Schuurman & Kaak, and "German Air Force Airlift Operations" by Fritz Morzik.
For photographic coverage, the Classic volume is excellent, as are the books by Gregory Almeras ("Le Junkers Ju 52 de la Lufthansa a la Luftwaffe") and Henry Hoppe ("AirDOC #01: Junkers Ju 52/3m")
If you're a modeller, then there are many other good resources for interior photos, detailed line drawings, and color schemes and markings.

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter

Re: Junker JU 52 story
 

Thank you very much Leon for these informations.

Yours faithfully


Alain

Re: Junker JU 52 story
 

interview with author Jan Forsgren posted here

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2016...en-author.html