Legion Condor Ju 52 with forward firing MG(s)
 

In Kampfflieger Volume One (Bombers of the Luftwaffe 1933-1940) by Smith & Creek (p. 8 and 33) there are two photos of a Ju 52 of Legion Condor, coded 22-90 and sporting the four aces emblem, armed with an additional machine gun firing between the propellers. The latter photo also appears in Ju 52 in action. Another – more detailed – photo of this MG installation can be found in FLUGZEUG Foto-Archiv Band 1 (p. 70).

All three photos seem to have been taken at the same occasion – the fuselage is parallel to the ground, the tail was supported by a “tower” made of crates and boxes. The photo in Flugzeug Foto-Archiv shows that the MG was really attached to the wing – but no aerodynamic fairing is visible.

I’d like to know if it was only tested on the ground (the photos undoubtedly suggest such tests) or if it was actually flown with this installation. Did it carry only one MG (on the stbd side only) or two?

Re: Legion Condor Ju 52 with forward firing MG(s)
 

There are an excelent front view photo showing both guns mounted with its streamlined fairings in the highly recommended book:

Eagle's Wings

The Autobiography of a Luftwaffe Pilot,
Hajo Herrmann
1991 Motorbooks, 266p.
ISBN: 0-87938-522-7

The explanation given in the book, is for avoiding the frontal attacks from the Red 'ratas' I-16.

Regards
Fran

Re: Legion Condor Ju 52 with forward firing MG(s)
 

Thanks a lot.