Other Forces

Condor Legion Stuka.

Unknown author.

Ju-87A in Spain, 1938. This was one of three Ju-87A aircraft assigned to the Legion Condor in January, 1938. They were, apparently, recalled to Germany towards the end of that year. Note the "galoshes" or "boot" cover for the wheels. One of the flaws discovered in the design at this point was the tendency of the "boots" to bog down in soft ground where it was necessary to land in such conditions. As a result, the "boots" were often detached in the field. The emblem on the "boot" is not a wild boar. The three-aircraft Stuka unit in question here adopted the moniker "Jolanthe Kette"; "Kette for "chain" (the three-aircraft formation approved by the Luftwaffe) and "Jolanthe", a character (a pig) featuring in a German romantic comedy produced as a movie in 1934 entitled "Trouble with Jolanthe". Probably a comment on their Stukas since, apart from the bogging-down issue, these early models were significantly underpowered and somewhat difficult to manage in the air. Towards the end of the Spanish Civil War, Stukas - this time Stuka-Bs, were assigned to the Legion Condor, and played a useful part (from the Nationalist viewpoint) in their concluding campaigns. They also suffered the only casualties of the Stuka in Spain, two having been shot down by ground fire. "Jolande Kette" suffered no casualties in its 9-month service in Spain. Best regards, JR.