SOLDIERS BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 5

SOLDIERS BY AIR

BELLIGERENTS' MACHINES [from OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON, April 2f> Ono of the aircraft used by the Germans in tho invasion of Norway was tho Junkers 52, a largo three-motor civil typo monoplane. The typo had been in fairly general use for passenger and freight carrying by tho Germans on their domestic and international civil air routes for some time beforo the war. , Tho Ju. 52 is a low-wing monoplnno with tho characteristic Junkers fuselage of rectangular section, covered with corrugated alloy shooting. Tho wings have a span of nearly 96ft, This is 12ft. more than that of the Armstrong Whitwor'th Whitley, Britain's biggest bomber at present in service use. Tho normal fuel capacity would give an operating range of about 1000 miles. . In its civil transport form, tho Ju. 52 had a maximum capacity for 17 passengers with luggage; but it is likely that more infantrymen, with their accoutrements, could bo crowded in. Alternatively, light guns and other war material could be transported in sections, stowed internally, or- even lashed to tlio external structure. Quito heavy machinery has often been carried by British machines. Britain has a modern troop-carrying aircraft in the Bristol Bombay. This bomber-transport is a two-motor, liighwing monoplane of all-metal construction. It is powerfully armod with gun turrets for its defence. Besides a crow of four, it has accommodation for 24 fully-armed troops, and a maximum range of over 2000 miles.