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 Memories - The threat of invasion in 1940

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 In summer 1940, The 'Reading Mercury' carried a public service article, headed:

GERMAN TROOP CARRYING AEROPLANES

'The War Office has asked us to publish these pictures of German troop carriers to help members of the Local Defence Volunteers and other members of the public to distinguish the enemy. Two more will be published next week, and it is suggested that they should be cut out, stuck on cardboard and hung in a prominent place'.

Junkers JU-52 (left) and Junkers JU-86 (right)

'The Junkers JU. 52, the most important German troop-carrier and the one normally used for parachute-dropping. Its distinctive features are - three engines, low wing, single square-cut rudder, sharply-tapered wings, square-cut wing-tips and tail plane, and a fixed undercarriage.'

 

'The Junkers JU. 86. The distinctive features of this machine are - two engines, a low wing, two square-cut rudders, sharply-tapered wings, square-cut wing-tips and tail plane, and a retractable undercarriage.'

It is unlikely that any of these were seen over Berkshire until after VE-Day. British European Airways were issued with some JU-52s when they started flying to continental Europe, but they weren't used for long.

With acknowledgements to Berkshire Media ('Reading Mercury'). Image used by permission.

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