Downed German transport from WW II found off Rhodes

According to a British journalist, Stuart Fildot, who traveled to Rhodes to see the plane discovered at the bottom of the sea, it is a German JU-52 three engined transport, which is almost intact and only the engine is missing along with the glass cockpit.

The journalist even states that all the doors of the are still closed and the windows are so small that one can not get in to see what its contents are.

Most likely, the aircraft found in Rhodes was carrying troops or traveling only with its three-man crew.

The story of the JU-52

The JU-52 was an aircraft made by the German Junkers industry. It was built from 1931 until 1945 when its production facilities were destroyed. During World War II, most aircraft were seized for military use while production continued for military purposes.

Two-thirds of Lufthansa's fleet in the 1930s consisted of such aircraft. Other major customers were Swissair and several Latin American companies. 

It is noted that the fleet of the Hellenic Air Transport Company had three such Junkers aircraft. The JU-52 became particularly well-known during the German occupation, as it was the most important Luftwaffe transport aircraft and was widely used in the Battle of Crete, and later during the battle of the southern Aegean (1943) which also justifies its finding in the area.

Today a JU-52 is located at the Air Force Museum under reconstruction. This aircraft was lifted from the bottom of the sea area of ​​Leros. It was mainly used as a transport aircraft and had a crew of three people.

Its length was 19 meters, it weighed 6 tons, its maximum speed was 265 km / h, and it could fly at an altitude of up to 5,500 meters. It carried three machine guns and bombs totaling 500 kilos. It could carry 18 armed soldiers or parachutists or 11 litters.

German military personnel affectionately referred to the aircraft as "Tante Ju" (Auntie Ju).