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Germany's Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber1,2,3
Junkers Ju 88V-1 prototype, medium bomber:
Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber:
Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber:
Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber:
Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber:
Design
The Junkers Ju 88 was designed to meet a requirement for a high speed medium bomber that could also be used as a dive bomber.3
Nose
The glazed nose gave excellent views, but was vulnerable to head on attacks.1
Fuselage
There was an aluminum stressed skin over an all metal frame.1
Gondola
The ventral gondola had a machine gun that was operated by the radio operator.1
Undercarriage
The landing swiveled 90° and retracted backwards to lay flat in the wing.1
Wing
The wing had two spars that were covered in stressed aluminum.1
Prototype
The Junkers Ju 88A / Ju 88V12 prototype flew for the first time on December 21, 1936.1,2,3 It was powered by the Daimler-Benz DB 600A inverted V 12 (1,000 HP).3 There were annular engine cowlings.3
The seventh prototype was the first to be designed as a fighter and was first flown in 1939.3
In March 1939 the fifth Ju 88A set a closed circuit record by carrying 4,100 lb / 2,000 kg at 320 mph / 517 kph for 620 miles / 1,000 km.1
Production
Total production of the bomber and reconnaissance versions was 10,774.1
- Ju 88A-0: 203
- Ju 88A: Over 7,0003
- Ju 88A-1: 60 produced by end of 1939.2
- Ju 88C and Ju 88R: ~3,2003
- Ju 88D: ~2,0003
- Ju 88G: ~2,8003
- Ju 88H, Ju 88S, and Ju 88T: ~5503
- Ju 88H-1: 103
- Ju 88H-2: 103
- Total: 14,9802,3
Variants
- Ju 88V7: First fighter prototype.3 Had Junkers Jumo 211B engines.3
- Ju 88A: Medium bomber.3 Dive bomber.3
- Ju 88C: Day and night fighter.3
- Ju 88D: Long range reconnaissance.3 Powered by Junkers Jumo 211D engines.2
- Ju 88G: Had BMW 801 engines.2 Tail was modified and had additional armament.2
- Ju 88H: Photo reconnaissance.2
- Ju 88P: Ground attack version with a solid nose like the Ju 88C.2 Could carry a 75 mm, 50 mm, and a 37 mm.2 There were plans to install a 88 mm Duka gun or a flame thrower.2
- Ju 88R: Night fighter.3 Had BMW 801 engines.2 Had 20 mm cannon in the upper fuselage that fired upwards.3
- Ju 88S: Bomber with a top speed of 370 mph / 600 kph.1 Intended to fly at high altitudes.2 Powered by a BMW 801G that used nitrous oxide to boost the speed.2
- Ju 88T: Photo reconnaissance.2
- Ju 88 Mistel: The Ju 88 was turned into a flying bomb with a fighter attached that would guide it to its target and release it.1
Usage
The Ju 88 series were used as bombers, escort fighters, night fighters, tank busters, torpedo bombers, transports, reconnaissance, and even other roles.1,3
The Ju 88 was popular with it's crews because of its toughness and speed.1
A Junkers Ju 88 was used as a test bed for one of the early jet engines.1
First Combat
On September 26, 1939 Ju 88As were used on British shipping in the Firth of Forth.3
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
