Junkers Ju 52/3m
In April 1940 the Ju 52 was at the forefront of the
invasions of Denmark and Norway, 160 transports dropping paratroops to capture
key airfields while a further 340 aircraft flew in supplies and reinforcements.
About 475 Ju 52s were available for the invasion of the Netherlands, and
suffered serious losses (167 aircraft) in the opening stages of the operation.
The next large-scale airborne operation, the invasion of
Crete in April/May 1941, was the last of its kind undertaken by the Luftwaffe.
The force committed included 493 Ju 52s and over 80 DFS 230 gliders. The
invasion, Operation Merkur, cost the Germans 7000 men killed or wounded
(including 25 per cent of the paratroops dropped) and 271 Ju 52s. When the
Germans invaded the Soviet Union in June
