Crashsite Junckers 52 /3M

[Johan Roos]

Hello,

Coming across this Forum, I hope someone here can give me some additional information about the crashed Junckers 52/3M on the attached photo.

As I've learned so far, it is probably a plane of the Kampfgeschwader zur besonderen Verwendung 1 (Code 1Z), 4. Staffel, 10. Gruppe (Code DJ) I don't know how to translate these term into English (Luftwaffe isn't my field of expertise), but probably the code 1Z/DJ is enough for you.

What I'd like to find out is the following: As far as I've able to determine, this plane went down either in Norway, April 1940, or in Holland, May 1940. According to me, It was most likely used as a transport unit in the landings around Den Haag, Holland somewhere between May 10th and May 14th, but I've been unable to verify this. Is there somebody who can help me with this?

Many thanks!

Johan

[Pieter H]

Hi Johan,
An interesting photo.
Assuming the code is 1Z+DJ, in the official system this is a machine of 17./KGzbV1, individual code D. However, a 17th Staffel of this KGzbV1 has never existed. See Rosch Luftwaffe Codings and Markings.
The mistery is solved however by one of the pictures in Rosch, p.266, which shows a Ju52 in the same position as this one, but now clearly coded 1Z+DU, so belonging to 10./KGzbV1. The caption says "crashed in France", no doubt during May 1940, and says the individual aircraft letter D is in red. A location somewhere in France was anyway my interpretation, since the roads are more french style than dutch style.
When examining your picture in more detail we can now see the more vague left part of the U. Indeed, remaining elements of KGzbV1 after the debacle of the airlift operation in Holland were used for supplying the panzer columns breaking through at Sedan. During these supply flights Ju52's were regularly sacrificed, by landing on spots where they would never be able to take off again, in order to get fuel to the tank columns. This machine also seems to have made a bumpy landing.

Kind regards, Pieter

[Johan Roos]

Dear Pieter,

Thank you very much for this interesting information. Still nice to know it was at least used in the Dutch airlift operation (Although I would have prefered a crash around The Hague, too bad!)

Are there any casualtielists of the Luftwaffe with a (global) indication of this plane's crashsite? Or is Sedan the closest one can get with this?

Kind Regards,

Johan