An Junkers Ju 90, perhaps the V8 as indicated by the dorsal turret, of Luftwaffe’s Lufttransportstaffel 290 parked on an Italian airport (notice in background a S.79 in front to a hangar), during loading operations with the rear ramp lowered for a personnel transport mission. The first appearance in Italy of this large, wing span 35,30 m, four engines transport aircraft, at beginning developed and built as long range civil airliner for Deutsche Luft Hansa (DLH), came from April 1940, when some DLH’s Ju 90 were used for transport services to and from Viterbo and the Germany. Later, on November 1942, the Luftwaffe’s Ju 90 returned to stops in Italy when, closed the commitment on Eastern Front, was employed for transport missions over the Mediterranean sector. Victor Sierra

Stop in Italy

Luftwaffe’s transport aircrafts, a Messerschmitt Me 323 in foreground and a pair of Junkers Ju 90 in background, the latters of the Lufttransportstaffel 290 (LTS 290), at Grosseto airport, Italy, March-April 1943. Originally an Italian Air Force’s basic training airfield, Grosseto, not far from Tuscany’s coasts, was requested by the Luftwffe as one's own base for bomber and transport units as well as school for torpedo aircraft crews. The Luftwaffe made important work of adjustment, included concrete runway, hanger and other buildings, changing the original airfield in a modern and large airport largely employed for the airlift from the Germany to Mediterranean Theatre for troops, freight and supplies transport and medical evacuation. From April 1943 Grosseto airport was again and again raided by the Allies and heavy damaged. After the German retreat on 1944, Grosseto was repaired by the American becoming the base of the USAAF’s 57th Fighter and 47th Bombardment Group (Bundesarchiv Bild 1011-561-1130-31A). Victor Sierra

Luftwaffe base in Italy

Grosseto, Italy, 20 May 1943: a German transport aircraft of the Luftwaffe’s Lufttransportstaffel 290 (LTS 290) destroyed on the ground by an air raid of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force’s American heavy bombers. The aircraft is the former Deutsche Luft Hansa’s Ju 90 D-ADFJ “Baden” Werk Nummer 900003 delivered to airline on 20 May 1939, later switched to Luftwaffe, Stammkennzeichen GF+GA, fuselage code J4+FH, used for briefly time also with Iraqi colors when the III Reich supported the Iraqi up rise. On March 28th, 1943 was allocated to LTS 290 at this time based at Grosseto before returning in July 1943 in Mühldorf am Inn (Bavaria). Victor Sierra

