SAAF Ju 52/3m

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of a Ju 52/3m captioned as from the Abyssinian campaign. I assume that it is one of 50 (Transport) squadrons machines given the caption,but alas no serial number is visible. Is it at least possible to tell which variant is shown?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/39520373128...4AAOSwb8Flzpbr


It may also be of interest that the same seller has a photo of a FAFL Blenheim


https://www.ebay.com/itm/39518924296...cAAOSw2AllxV0B


Regards,


Clint

[Alex Smart]

South African Air Force eleven Ju52 aircraft, serial numbers in the 670 - 680 range,
They also used about half a dozen captured ones serial numbers 25 - 30.
Ref: 85 years SAAF.

[musec04]

Alex,thanks for the reply.In retrospect, I should have mentioned I have a copy of the Brent book.


I believe that the aircraft shown is probably one on the ex South African Airways machines if the photo is captioned correctly as Abyssinia.


The reason I asked the question about whether it was possible to identify the type shown is because Brent mentions four planes with Hornet engines and seven with Wasps. I've no idea if these differed externally in other ways,hence my question.


Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

Clint. This must be one of the ex-SA Airways as they had wheel spats, 2-blade props and normal chord cowls angled outwards ( I believe later Hornets has parallel engines, 3-blade props and longer-chord cowls but not positive); camouflage usually RAF Dark Green and Light Blue ( or Azure, in Oct. 1968 I did a few Ju.52 drawings for IPMS UK magazine with a SAAF one with that colour based on a photo).
Regards
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Am embarrassed �� didn't notice the wheel Spats.
But did think I could only just make out a"67?" Serial number.
But it may well have been my eyes and mind confused ��

[Buckeye30]

Alex a couple more points, from photos I've seen the ex-airliners had long fin stripes to the top, the ex-Luftwaffe had shorter. This one seems to have a dorsal gun position added in the field and looks like a pre-war Scarff ring ( the standard military was a ring-mounted MG with a small wind-deflector in front). Maybe I'm seeing things too.
Regards
Nick

[musec04]

Hello,


For anyone interested more photos of a SAAF Ju 52 ?


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375298340...cAAOSwsJNl6kUM





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395269490...sAAOSwUOtl83T2


Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Clint

To try and answer your post 1, Lennart (Andersson of course!) says the first four aircraft bought were
of the Ju 52/3m ge version (ie using Hornet engines) while the rest were Ju 52/3m sai (ie Wasp equipped).
Since three of the initial four were returned to Germany in March 1938 it is very much likely the aircraft
shown in the rather mediocre photo was a Ju 52/3m sai variant.
I am quite useless myself in identifying any outside difference between the two versions, so I can't myself
say what engines were installed in your close up photo, but a 'sai' is again most likely!

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Thanks Stig,


Given the withdrawl of most of the earlier aircradt Ju 52/3m sai as the identity would appear to be probable. Speaking of the close up photo, I've not seen many SAAF Ju 52/3m photos, I'm wondering if the letter V on the front fuselage was reflected in the use of other letters for the remaining Ju 52/3m in SAAF service,has any seen any other examples of this type of marking?


Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Clint

No idea what that V is all about. All I can say if it was a unit code marking it is out of sequence.
Known letter codes are 662/B, 664/D, 665/E, 666/F and 668/G and they all fall in the correct s/n
sequence.

The problem with SAAF Ju 52 is that either you can see their fuselage codes but then the outer engines
cover anything that is inside beneath the cockpit.
Also, unfortunately, most photos I have seen don't show any codes at all.
On the other hand, not all of the later 52s have a known code....

Nick
As far as I can make out none of the three photos sold show a two-blade version.
With three out of four SAA Ju 52/3m ge returned to Germany long before the outbreak of war
I would say there remained very little chance to see a SAAF 52 with a two-blade prop.
With regard to the dorsal gun I confess it looks like one, but the photo is so bad, it could be anything
just looking like that. Anyone who has heard of such a conversion? Lennart says nothing about any
such installment

Alex
SAAF captured a lot of Ju 52/3m in North Africa. Unfortunately nobody bothered about taking
notes what they had been before. Known s/n are 26-27, 29-38

Cheers
Stig