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In 1942, due to the worsening war situation
and a critical shortage of metal materials, Reich Air Ministry
instructed Junkers to redesign the structure of the Junkers Ju.252
transport airplane. Junkers proposed the Ju.352 Herkules, itself
developed in an attempt to replace the Ju.52/3m. The new aircraft was
very similar to the Ju.252, which was made from wood and steel tube
construction, and was covered in fabric to save on strategic materials.
The wooden wings were moved back, a new vertical tail was
redesigned, and the semi-circular windows of the Ju.252 were replaced
with square windows. Defensive firepower was provided by one 20mm MG
151/20 cannon mounted in an dorsal turret, while two 13mm MG-131 machine
guns could be mounted in the cabin windows. The V1 prototype made its
maiden flight in October 1943, followed quickly by the V2. Ten A-0
pre-production (V3 to V12) and thirty three A-1 full production aircraft
were built. KG 200, the Luftwaffe's most secret unit, got most of them
to drop agents and fly other special missions until April 1945.
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