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

During WWII and later Ju-52’s were produced in France by the Junkers controlled Amito Ateliers Aeronautique de Colombes (AAC) company. These aircraft were Amiot AAC-1 Toucan and saw extensive usage in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s in Indochina. They equipped GT Groupes de Transport I/64 "Bearn", GT II/62 "Franche Comte" and III/64 "Tonkin" based at Bach Mai. These aircraft were used for transporting supplies and parachute troops with some being converted to bombers. Some received machine guns and napalm containers. The Toucan was withdrawn from Indochina in 1952.