Junkers Ju 88
Ju 88A-5
Type	Dive bomber/Tactical bomber/Night fighter
Manufacturer	Junkers
Maiden flight	21 December 1936
Introduced	1939
Retired	1951 (France)
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	15,000
Variants	Junkers Ju 188

The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. It was one of the most versatile planes of the war, used as a bomber, close-support aircraft, nightfighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, dive-bomber, heavy fighter, and even as a giant flying bomb in the Mistel project. ^[1] Despite its protracted development, the aircraft became one of the Luftwaffe's most crucial assets. There were 15,000 Ju 88s built during World War II.

Design and development

In August 1935 the Reichsluftfahrtministerium submitted its requirements for a unarmed, three seat, high-speed bomber, with a payload of 800-1,000 kg.^[2] Junkers presented their initial design in June 1936, and were given clearance to build two prototypes (Wk Nr 4941 and 4942)^[2]. The first two aircraft were to have a range of 2,000 km and were to be powered by two DB 600s. three further aircraft, (Wk Nrs 4943, 4944 and 4945), that were to be powered by Jumo 211 engines^[2]. The first two prototypes, Ju 88 V1 and V2 were different from the V3, V4 and V5s, in that the latter three models as they were equipped with three defensive armament positions to the rear of the cockpit, and were able to carry two 1,000 kg bombs under the inner wing. The first five prototypes had conventionally operating rearwards-retracting main gear, but starting with the V6 prototype, a main gear design that twisted the main gear strut through 90º during the retraction sequence, much like the American P-40 fighter design used, to allow the main wheels to end up above the lower end of the strut when fully retracted, was adopted as standard for all future production Ju 88 aircraft, and all other later developments in the series. These landing gear struts also made use of stacks of conical Belleville washers inside them, as their main form of suspension for takeoffs and landings. At this time radical modifications began to produce a "heavy" dive-bomber. The wings were strengthened, dive brakes were added, the fuselage was extended and the number of crew increased to four. Despite these advances, the Ju 88 was to enter the war as a medium bomber.

The aircraft's first flight was made by the prototype Ju 88 V1, which bore the civil registration D-AQEN, on 21 December 1936. When it first flew, it managed about 580 km/h (360 mph) and Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe was ecstatic. It was an aircraft that could finally fulfill the promise of the Schnellbomber, a high-speed bomber. The streamlined fuselage was modeled after its contemporary, the Dornier Do 17, but with fewer defensive guns because the belief still held that it could outrun fighters. The fifth prototype set a 1,000 km (620 mile) closed-circuit record in March 1939, carrying a 2,000 kg (4,100 lb) payload at a speed of 517 km/h (320 mph). ^[5] However, by the time Luftwaffe planners had had their own "pet" features added (including dive-bombing), the Ju 88's top speed had dropped to around 450 km/h (280 mph).

Dr. Heinrich Koppenberg (managing director of Jumo) assured Göring in the autumn of 1938 that 300 Ju 88s per month was definitely possible. Göring was in favour of the A-1 variant for mass production. Goring gave priority for materials to be diverted to the production of the Ju 88.

Production was delayed drastically with developmental problems. Although planned for a service introduction in 1938, the Ju 88 finally entered squadron service (with only 12 aircraft) on the first day of the attack on Poland in 1939. Production was painfully slow with only one Ju 88 manufactured per week, as problems continually kept cropping up. The Ju 88C series of heavy fighter was also designed very early in 1940, but kept secret from Göring, as he only wanted bombers.

Operational history

The Ju 88 A-1 series first flew anti-shipping sorties close to Norway. Ju 88 bombers based at Westerland on the island of Sylt in northern Germany carried out the first Luftwaffe raids against Britain. An attack on Rosyth on 16 October 1939 succeeded in damaging three ships, but was then attacked by Spitfires of No. 602 and No. 603. Squadrons of the RAF and two Ju 88s were shot down in the Firth of Forth. A raid on Scapa Flow the next day saw the loss of one Ju 88 to anti-aircraft fire.

All combat-ready Ju 88s (some 133), were pressed into the Blitzkrieg, but very high combat losses and accidents forced a quick withdrawal from action to re-train crews to fly this very high performance beast. By this time, major performance deficiences in the A-1 led to an all-out effort in a major design rework. The outcome was a longer wingspan that was deemed needed for all A-1s; thus the A-5 was born. Surviving A-1s were modified as quickly as possible, with new wings to A-5 specifications.

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain proved very costly. Its faster speed did not prevent Ju 88 losses exceeding those of its Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 111 stablemates, despite being deployed in smaller numbers than either. A series of field kits were made to make it less vulnerable, including the replacement of the rear machine gun by a twin barreled machine gun, and additional cockpit armour.

It was during the closing days of the Battle of Britain that the flagship Ju 88 A-4 went into service. Although slower yet than the A-1, nearly all of the troubles of the A-1 were gone, and finally the Ju 88 matured into the superb warplane that it was designed to be. The A-4 actually saw additional improvements including more powerful engines, but, unlike other aircraft in the Luftwaffe, did not see a model code change. The Ju 88 C series also benefited from the A-4 changes, and when the Luftwaffe finally did decide on a new heavy fighter, the Ju 88 C was a powerful, refined aircraft.

Dive bomber

In October 1937 Generalluftzeugmeister Ernst Udet had ordered the development of the Ju 88 as a heavy dive-bomber. This decision was influenced by the success of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka in this role. The Junkers development center at Dessau gave priority to the study of pull-out systems, and dive brakes^[6]. The first prototype to be tested as a dive-bomber was the Ju 88 V4 followed by the V5 and V6. These models became the planned prototype for the A-1 series. The V5 made its maiden flight on 13 April 1938, and the V6 on 28 June 1938. Both the V5 and V6 were fitted with four bladed propellers, an extra bomb bay and a central "control system"^[6]. As a dive bomber, the Ju 88 was capable of pinpoint deliveries of heavy loads; however, despite all the modifications, dive bombing still proved too stressful for the airframe, and in 1943, tactics were changed so that bombs were delivered from a shallower, 45° diving angle. Aircraft and bomb sights were accordingly modified and dive brakes were removed. With an advanced Stuvi dive-bomb sight, accuracy remained very good for its time. Maximum bomb load of the A-4 was 2,500 kg, but in practice, standard bomb load was 1,500 to 2,000 kg. ^[8]

Fighter-bomber

The standard fighter-bomber version became the Ju 88C-6, applying experience acquired with the A-4 bomber, equipped with the same Jumo 211J engines. The C-6 was used mostly as fighter-bomber and therefore assigned to bomber units. As a reaction to the increasing number of attacks on German shipping, especially on U-boats in the Bay of Biscay, KG40 started flying anti-shipping patrols and escort missions from bases in France, in September 1942. They were a significant threat to the antisubmarine aircraft and operated as escort fighters for the more vulnerable Focke-Wulf Fw200 Condor bombers. After the Allied invasion in Normandy, KG40 was mauled in a number of desperate attacks on the landing beaches and in July 1944, the unit was disbanded.

Night fighter

Ju 88C

First night fighter version of Ju 88 was C-2, based on A-1 and armed with one 20 mm MG FF cannon and three 7.92 mm MG 17 machine-guns placed in new metal nose. These planes entered service in Zerstörerstaffel of KG 30 and unit was renamed II./NJG 1 in July 1940.

C-6b version was C-6 Zerstörer plane equipped with FuG 202 Lichtenstein BC radar. The first four C-6b fighters were tested in early 1942 in NJG 1. The trials were successful and the aircraft was ordered into production. In October 1943, many C-6bs were upgraded with new radar systems. The first new radar equipment was the FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1 and, in 1944, the FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2.

Ju 88R

The Ju 88 R-series night fighter were basically Ju 88 C-6b powered by BMW 801 engines. The R-1 had 1560 PS BMW 801L engines and the R-2 had 1700 PS BMW 801 G-2 engines.

One of the first aircraft from the R-1 series that went into service (factory No. 360043) was involved in one of the most significant defections which the Luftwaffe suffered. On 9 May 1943, this night fighter, which was stationed with 10./NJG 3 in Norway, flew to Dyce Airfield (now Aberdeen Airport) with its entire crew complement and complete electronic equipment on board. The fact that Spitfire fighters escorted it towards the end of its flight could indicate that its arrival had been expected. It was immediately transferred to Farnborough Airfield, received RAF markings (PJ876), and was tested in great detail^[9]. The preserved aircraft is on exhibit at the RAF Museum.

Ju 88G

All previous night fighter versions of the Ju 88 used a modified A-series fuselage. The G-series fuselage was purpose-built for the special needs of a night fighter. G-1 planes were fitted with the enlarged squared-off tail unit of the Ju 188, more powerful armament and 1,700 PS BMW 801 G-2 radial engines plus additional FuG 350 Naxos or FuG 227 Flensburg homing devices as well as the now-standard FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar.

G-6 were equipped with 1750 PS Jumo 213A inline-V12 engines, enlarged fuel tanks and often one or two MG 151/20 cannons in a Schräge Musik installation. Guns were firing obliquely upwards and forwards from the upper fuselage - usually at an angle of 70 degrees.

Some of the final G-series models received updates to the engine, a high-altitude Jumo 213E or to the radar, FuG 218 Neptun V/R or the even newer FuG 240 Berlin N-1 centimetric radar. Only about 10-20 of those were completed, before the VE day.

Many of the Luftwaffe night fighter aces, such as Helmut Lent (110 victories) and Heinrich von und zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (87 victories) flew Ju 88s during their careers.

The Japanese Navy ordered the specifications of an antisubmarine patrol/escort fleet aircraft, based on a medium bomber. The Kyūshū company closely patterned the Kyūshū Q1W Tokai ("East Sea") "Lorna" antisubmarine patrol/fleet escort aircraft after the Ju 88.

Finnish Air Force

In early 1943, as Finland was fighting its Continuation War against the USSR, the Finnish Air Force bought 24 Ju 88s from Germany. The aircraft were transferred to No. 44 Sqn in April. The 44th Sqn, had previously been equipped with Bristol Blenheims, but these were instead transferred to No. 42 Sqn. Due to their complexity, most of 1943 was used for training the crews on the aircraft, and only a handful of bombing missions were undertaken. The most notable was the raid on the Lehto partisan village on 20 August 1943 (where the whole squadron participated), and the raid on the Lavansaari air field (leaving seven Ju 88 damaged from forced landing in inclement weather). In the summer of 1943, the Finns noted stress damage on the wings. This had occurred when the aircraft were used in dive bombing. Restrictions followed: the dive brakes were removed and it was only allowed to dive at a 45 degree angle (compared to 60-80 degrees previously). In this way, they tried to spare the aircraft from unnecessary wear.

One of the more remarkable missions was the bombing raid on 9 March 1944, against the Kasimovo airfield near Saint Petersburg, and the raid against the Aerosan base at Petsnajoki on 22 March 1944. The whole bomber regiment took part in the defence against the Soviets during the fourth strategic offensive. All aircraft flew several missions per day, day and night, when the weather permitted.

No. 44 Sqn was subordinated Lentoryhmä Sarko during the Lapland War (now against Germany), and the Ju 88s were used both for reconnaissance and for bombing. The targets were mostly vehicle columns. Reconnaissance flights were also done over northern Norway. The last war mission was flown on 4 April 1945.

After the wars, Finland was prohibited from using bomber aircraft with internal bomb stores, consequently, the Finnish Ju 88s were used for training until 1948. The aircraft were then scrapped over the following years. No Finnish Ju 88s have survived until today, but an engine is on display at the Central Finland Aviation Museum, and the structure of a German Ju 88 cockpit hood is preserved at the Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa.

Variants

Ju 88A: Main bomber type with Jumo's 211 engines.

Ju 88B: Prototype new fuselage, developed into Ju 188

Ju 88C: Zestörer, fighter-bomber and night fighter, based on A-series, but with sheet metal nose.

Ju 88D: Photo Reconnaissance, based on A-series

Ju 88G: night fighter, new fuselage, tail section from Ju 188, optional Schräge Musik

Ju 88H: Long range Photo reconnaissance (H-1, H-3) and fighters (H-2, H-4), based on stretched G-series fuselage

Ju 88P: Anti-Tank and anti-bomber variant with single Bordkanone series 50 or 75 mm or twin 37 mm cannons, small series, conversion of A-series bomber

Ju 88R: C-series night fighter with BMW 801 engines

Ju 88S: High speed bomber with ventral Bola gondola removed and nitrous oxide boost, fastest of all variants

Ju 88T: Photo Reconnaissance version of S-series

Operators

 Bulgaria

 Finland: Finnish Air Force (24)

:No. 44 Squadron

 France: Armée de l'Air (captured aircraft)

 Germany: Luftwaffe

 Hungary

 Italy: Regia Aeronautica

Romania

 Soviet Union: Soviet Air Force (captured)

Spanish State: Spanish Air Force (15)

Survivors

Around 14 aircraft still exist, although many of these are little more than collections of wreckage recovered from remote crash sites. Several reasonably intact aircraft have been recovered from underwater crash sites in recent years.

Ju 88 D-1/Trop, Werk Nr. 430650

Long-range photographic reconnaissance aircraft that was in the service of the Romanian Air Force. In July 1943, it was flown to Cyprus by a Romanian pilot who wanted to defect to the British forces on the island. Given the name Baksheesh, it was subsequently handed over to the US Air Force for examination and test flying. It is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, presently finished in its original-style Romanian military insignia.

Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. 360043

Aircraft taken to Scotland by its defecting crew, exhibited at the RAF Museum.

Specifications (Junkers Ju 88)

General characteristics

* Crew: 4

• Length: 14.2 m (46 ft 6 in)* Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)* Wing area: 47.8 m² (515 ft²)* Empty weight: 3,900 kg (8,600 lb)* Loaded weight: 7,700 kg (16,980 lb)* Max takeoff weight: kg (lb)* Powerplant: 2 Junkers Jumo 211A (or a BMW 801 in some cases) liquid-cooled inverted V-12, 900 kW (1,200 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 510 km/h at 4,750 m (317 mph at 15,600 ft)* Range: 2,108 km (1,310 mi)* Service ceiling: 9,080 m (29,800 ft)* Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)

Armament

References

• Dressel, Joachim and Griehl Manfred. Bombers of the Luftwaffe. London: Arms and Armour (DAG Publications), 1994. ISBN 1-85409-140-9.
• Feist, Uwe. Junkers Ju 88 in action. Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1974. ISBN 3-79090-026-5.
• Taylor, John W.R. "Junkers Ju 88." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
• Verlag, Kaiser. Die großen Luftschlachten des Zweiten Weltkriegs: Flugzeuge - Erfolge - Niederlagen. Gebunden, Germany: Neuer Kaiser Vlg GmbH, 1994. ISBN 3-7043-6029-5.
• Winchester, Jim. "Junkers Ju 88". Aircraft of World War II. London: Grange Books, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-639-1.

External links

• www.Ju88.net
• http://www.geocities.com/hjunkers/ju_ju88_a1.htm Junkers Ju 88 page]

Related content

Related development

Ju 188 - Ju 388

Comparable aircraft

de Havilland Mosquito - Petlyakov Pe-2 - Mitsubishi Ki-21 - Yokosuka P1Y

Designation sequence

Ju 85 - Ju 86 - Ju 87 - Ju 88 - Ju 89 - Ju 90 - Ar 95

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Germany - List of bomber aircraft

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Junkers & Co was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and well known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany.
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Deutsche Luftwaffe or Luftwaffe   (help info ) (German: air force, literally "Air Weapon", pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA:
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Type Tactical bomber/Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Junkers
Maiden flight 1940 (Ju 88B V1)
Introduced February 1943
Retired 1951 (France)
Primary users Germany
France (post-war)
Number built 1,234

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Junkers & Co was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and well known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany.
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Allied powers:
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Deutsche Luftwaffe or Luftwaffe   (help info ) (German: air force, literally "Air Weapon", pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA:
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bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs.

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Strategic bombers are primarily designed for long-range strike missions with bombs against strategic targets such as supply bases, bridges, factories,
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night fighter (also all-weather fighter) is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility.

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A heavy fighter is a fighter aircraft designed to carry heavier weapons or operate at longer ranges. To achieve acceptable performance, most heavy fighters were twin-engined. Some extremely long-ranged heavy fighters are considered to be escort fighters.
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Mistel (Ger. "Mistletoe") was a late war Luftwaffe aircraft bombing system of World War II.

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The scheme originally involved packing a war-weary bomber airframe (a Junkers Ju 88 variant) with explosives and guiding it to its target by a fighter aircraft
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The Reich Air Ministry (German: Reichsluftfahrtministerium) was a government department during the period of Nazi Germany (1933-45). It is also the original name of a building in Wilhelmstraße in central Berlin, the capital of Germany, which now houses the German Finance
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December 21 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.
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Hermann Wilhelm Göring ( listen   (help info ) ) (also Goering in English) (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946) was a German politician and military leader, a leading member of the
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Deutsche Luftwaffe or Luftwaffe   (help info ) (German: air force, literally "Air Weapon", pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA:
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A Schnellbomber (German, literally fast bomber) is the concept of a high-speed bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s when (due to the air defence systems being dependent solely on visual and auditory observation) it was believed that a very fast bomber could
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Type Bomber
Manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke
Maiden flight 23 November 1934<ref name="Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 25." >Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 25.
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Deutsche Luftwaffe or Luftwaffe   (help info ) (German: air force, literally "Air Weapon", pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA:
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Sylt (Danish: Sild; Söl'ring North Frisian: Söl' ) is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfrieslanddistrict, Schleswig-Holstein and well known for the distinct shape of its shoreline.
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