Junkers Ju 352 Herkules
Junkers Flugzeugwerk · Germany · first flew 1943 · transport aircraft
The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules was a German WWII-era transport aircraft designed as a successor to the Ju 52, using non-strategic materials to conserve aluminium. It featured an innovative rear-loading ramp for quick cargo handling.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 24.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing trimotor with two wing engines and one nose engine
- Distinctive Trapoklappe hydraulic rear-loading ramp under the tail
- Fixed spatted undercarriage with large mainwheel fairings
Large high-wing trimotor recognisable by its two underwing radial engines plus a third in the nose, slab-sided fuselage, and prominent rear-loading ramp aperture beneath the tail.
Specifications
- The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules has a length of 24.2 m (79 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34.2 m (112 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 370 km/h (230 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from 1942 as wartime raw-material shortages forced Germany to seek wooden and steel alternatives to traditional aluminium construction, the Ju 352 used a mixed wood-and-metal structure. First flown in 1943, it saw limited Luftwaffe transport service before production was curtailed by Allied bombing and the deteriorating war situation. Around 45 aircraft were completed.
Variants
The Ju 352A-1 was the primary production version; a planned Ju 352B with more powerful engines did not reach production.
Where you'll see it
Operated in small numbers by the Luftwaffe on logistical transport duties in the final years of WWII; no post-war service recorded.
Related aircraft
- Junkers D.I
- Boeing C-108 Flying Fortress
- Cessna C-106 Loadmaster
- Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
- Curtiss C-76 Caravan
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