The Junkers Ju 88 was a German medium bomber used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was one of the most versatile military aircraft in history. Although it was not specifically designed to engage an enemy aircraft in a dogfight, the Ju 88 was also employed as long-range escort fighter and night fighter, as well as a tank buster, dive bomber, reconnaissance, and transport aircraft. Being tough and reliable, by 1943 it had become the Luftwaffe most important tactical bomber in its arsenal. As a result, it was massively produced, with a total of 15,180 aircraft built in different versions.
Conceived in 1935, the prototype, the Ju 88 V1, performed its maiden flight on December 21, 1936. It was flown by Junkers' test pilot Johann Kindermann, taking off from Dessau runway. Although it crashed once, the design proved to be thoroughly sound and reliable during the flight tests. The first and second prototypes were powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 600 A/B, V12, inline piston engines, each of which which could deliver 986 horsepower. However, the V3, V4, V5, and V6 prototypes would be powered by two Jumo 211A inline piston engines.
Finally, after almost three years of intense tests, the Junkers Ju 88 entered service with the Luftwaffe on June 22, 1939, as the Ju 88A-1, the first variant. However, it would not take part in the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. But nonetheless it would be intensely used during the Blitz, which was the Luftwaffe systematic night bombing of England between 1940 and 1941, and in Operation Barbarossa and Case Blue. As the war raged on, it showed it was a very reliable rugged aircraft as it could fly in extreme weather conditions, from the desert of North Africa to the Arctic. To defend Germany against Allied bombers, the Ju 88C and Ju 88G night fighters would be produced, with the latter one being fitted with a SN-2 radar for this type of missions.
Technical Characteristics
The Junkers Ju 88 was a twin-engine monoplane, with retractable landing gear. It was fitted with an all-metal fuselage and straight, cantilever, low wing, which was set at a dihedral angle. The wing was built using two main spars and, like the fuselage, it was covered in flush-riveted, stressed aluminum. Since the Ju 88A was capable from the start to carry out dive bombing missions, it was fitted with slatted dive brakes as well as bomb racks. The cockpit of aircraft was large and comfortable, capable to accommodate a crew of four; pilot, bombardier, night engineer, and radio operator. The landing gear retracted backwards into the rear section of engine nacelle.
Specifications (Ju 88A-4)
Type: medium bomber/dive bomber
Length: 14.40 m (47 feet, 1 inch)
Wing Span: 20.13 m (60 feet, 3 inches)
Wing Area: 54.50 m2 (587 square feet)
Height: 4.85 m (17 feet, 6 inches)
Power Plant: two 1,200 HP, Jumo 211J, V12, inline, liquid-cooled piston engine. The Ju 88G version was equipped with two 1,700 HP BMW-801D-2, 14-cylinder, radial engines.
Maximum Speed: 440 k/h (280 mph)
Range: 1,800 km (1,200 miles)
Service Ceiling: 8,200 m (27,000 feet)
Crew: 4
Armament: two 13-mm machine guns; four 7.92-mm machine guns; up to 3,000-kg (6,600-lb) of bombs.
Below, a Junkers Ju 88A-5 version is about to take off. Notice the 'Totenkopf' (skull) on side of fuselage.
The Ju 88G-1 version in flight over the Soviet Union. Notice the antennas of the FuG-220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar, which was essential for its night fighter role.
Below, the first prototype, V1, in flight, in early 1937.
The Ju 88R-1 version on a British landing strip. Its crew had agreed to defect in June 1943, and flew Dice, Aberdeen, and surrendered to the RAF.
Below, a 1939 photo of the first Ju 88A-1 produced at Bernburg
