Schuco 403551901 | Junkers Ju 52/3m Swiss Air Force, A-701, Switzerland

General Background:

The Ju-52 entered service in April 1931 as a troop transport and bomber. During the Spanish Civil War, it ferried troops from Morocco to Spain and dropped some 6,000 tons of bombs. The three-engine Ju-52 served as a 17-passenger airliner for many nations, most famously with the German Lufthansa. Nicknamed "Iron Annie," the Ju 52 was built of strong corrugated metal. For air defense and tactical ground support it was armed with multiple machine guns and was fitted with bomb racks capable of carrying 3,307 lbs of bombs. During WWII, 5,000 Ju-52s served in all fronts in a variety of roles, from troop transport to mine-laying.

The Aircraft:

Three Ju 52/3m-g4e aircraft were purchased by the Swiss Government for the Air Force. In October 1939 the aircraft were delivered to Duebendorf Airfield. For more than 40 years, these aircraft were used for transporting cargo and as flying classrooms for navigators. The 3 aircraft were HB-HOS / A-701, HB-HOT / A-702 and HB-HOP / A-703.

In 1981, the Swiss Air Force retired their Ju 52s and eventually all three aircraft were purchased by civilian operator "Ju-Air" for sightseeing flights. The flights proved extremely popular with aviation enthusiasts who could experience air travel from a bygone era in classic aircraft.