The Junkers Ju 52/3m, nicknamed "Aunt Ju," began its career in 1930 as a 17-seat passenger airliner and utility transport aircraft for various civilian airlines like Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa. It was known for its corrugated metal skin design. Though initially offered in single and triple engine versions, the tri-motor configuration became the workhorse for civilian passenger and cargo transport throughout the 1930s.