Comiso airfield, Sicily, 1942: Luftwaffe’s Junkers Ju 52 transport aircrafts taking-off to ferry supplies to Axis troops in North-Africa while other waiting for their turn. Notice on the right an Italian Savoia-Marchetti S.79 bomber aircraft of Regia Aeronautica’s 207th Squadriglia. Victor Sierra

From Sicily to North Africa

This poorly cropped photo shows a flight of Ju 52/3m of 1./KGzbV 1 in late 1937. Although still painted in a pale grey finish very similar to that used by Lufthansa aircraft this airplanes already had the civil registrations replaced by the Balkenkreuz and five character unit identification codes. Of particular interest is the semi-retractable ventral 'dustbin' gun position with the unfortunate gunners clearly visible on several of the aircrafts. Several of these converted Ju 52/3m saw active service with K/88 during the Spanish Civil War.

The 'dustbin' 

Aerial convoy of Luftwaffe’s Junkers Ju 52 whit supplies for the Axis troops in North-Africa approaching their destination after a flight over the Mediterranean made dangerous by the presence of the Allied fighters. Notice the low altitude over the terrain overflew. Victor Sierra