PP-SPE   Junkers Ju-52/3mg3e                         (c/n  5465)

                                      

                                          Viacao Aerea Sao Paulo, S.A. (VASP) was founded in November 1933 by the City, State and
                                          Municipal Bank of Sao Paulo.  Seventy-five percent of the capital came from the City and State
                                          whose aim was to open up the interior through air transportation..   Its first two aircraft were
                                          Monospar ST.4s imported from Britain (PP-SPA and -PB).  These craft inaugurated services
                                          on two routes: Sao Paulo-Ribeirao-Preto-Uberaba and Sao Paulo-Sao Carlos-Rio Preto. Its
                                          third aircraft was also a British machine, the D.H.84 Dragon PP-SPC.       Then, late in 1933
                                          VASP ordered two Junkers Ju-52/3ms through Theodore Wille and Cia, a German importing
                                          company closely allied with the Condor organization.  These were 17 passenger aircraft and
                                          were named 'Cidade de Sao Paulo' (PP-SPD) and 'Cidade de Rio de Janerio' (PP-SPE) seen
                                          above in this VASP photo via Joao Novella.   They went into service on 5 August 1936 starting
                                          a new passenger route from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.    PP-SPE was eventually scrapped.