Crashsite Junckers 52 /3M

[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