General Background

The Ju-52 first flew in 1930 as a single engine civil aircraft. Before long it was given two more engines and designated Ju-52/3m (German - drei motoren - "three engines"). The 3-engine aircraft was originally designed as a 17 passenger airliner. The principal user was Lufthansa that flew in Europe, Asia and South America. In the mid 1930’s a military version was produced and the Ju-52 became one of the most reliable transport aircraft. The Ju-52 saw service with military and civilian air fleets well into the 1980s.

The Aircraft

In 1929 Iberia Airlines merged with another state own airline. In May 1935 LAPE (Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas) Company was created it was taken over by the military in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Since the name Iberia was still registered the airline began to fly in Nationalist-held territory eventually becoming a purely domestic airline. EC-AAJ was a former DLH (Deutsche Lufthansa) aircraft D-AVUL “Bruno Rodschinka” acquired by Iberia in February 1941 and named “Guadal Quivir”. One month later the aircraft was written off at Son Bonet Mallorca without fatalities