Ju 52´s after capturing Crete.... Fallschirmjäger landing on the island of Crete. German soldiers pause before the graves of their comrades Aftermath of a German air attack on Souda Bay
No doubt it's just something he's carrying, but the photo looks as though he has a hook in place of his left hand!
I read a possible explanation. There were only a handful of reasonable air fields and these were soon taken By bomber units. The transport planes had to do with what was left, mostly Dusty roads and small poor fields. There was also murderous AA fire and the transport plane losses during the first 48 hrs were enormous.
Looks like they were jacked up for the wheels. Not much to say "crash landing" that I can see. Full Discloure: I'm a sailor, not an Airedale.
Never seen a soldier with a hook hand although many soldiers fought with artficial limbs. The Germans had their heavier weapons in bags that were dropped with separate chutes but I cannot imagine he would use a hook to open the gun baggage.
Reminds me of some Australian comic characters... Kangaroo Tasmanian Devil Ultraa (Smacking Superman) Some others And cat man...
I landed on the JFK during a full gale, trash hauler of course. I was between the pilot and the LOX tank I was shepherding. "That's so you can slow down loose cargo before it hits me!" Thanks, LT.
and here is apparently another look Which I belatedly discovered was flipped. Above is corrected perspective.