Germany's Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber

Photos

 

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. The work on the design for the Junkers Ju 88 started on January 15, 1936, and was led by W. H. Evers and Alfred Gassner .

Nose

The glazed nose gave excellent views, but was vulnerable to head on attacks.

Fuselage

There was an aluminum stressed skin over an all metal frame.

Gondola

The ventral gondola had a machine gun that was operated by the radio operator.

Undercarriage

The landing swiveled 90° and retracted backwards to lay flat in the wing.

Wing

The wing had two spars that were covered in stressed aluminum.

Ju 88A

Mistel 1

The concept was thought up by Siegfried Holzbauer, a test pilot, in 1941. The Air Ministry liked the idea and wanted to use it against the British Navy base at Scapa Flow.

The Mistel concept was to have a plane loaded with explosives that would be guided by another plane that was attached to it. Once near the target they would separate and the bomber would then be guided to its target.

Ju 88G

The forward fuselage of the Ju 88G was modified from previous Ju 88 variants. The square surfaces of the tail were larger.

Ju 88H

The Ju 88H was based on the basic Ju 88 design but with improvements in speed, range, and high altitude performance.

Ju 88S

The Ju 88S was based on the basic Ju 88 design but with improvements in speed, range, and high altitude performance.

The nose of the Ju 88S was smooth glazed.

Ju 88T

The Ju 88T was based on the basic Ju 88 design but with improvements in speed, range, and high altitude performance.

The Ju 88T had additional cameras and fuel. Range and Bomb Load Comparison

Prototype

The Junkers Ju 88A / Ju 88V1 prototype flew for the first time on December 21, 1936, at Dessau by Flugkapitän Kindermann. It was powered by the Daimler-Benz DB 600A inverted V 12 (1,000 HP). There were annular engine cowlings. The first prototype crashed. The third prototype was completed in September 1937 and used a Junkers Jumo 211 engine. The fifth prototype had the Junkers Jumo 211 B engines (1,200 HP). This Ju 88 prototype set a record in March 1939 for a closed circuit 1,000 km race, carrying 2 tons and traveling an average of 320 mph.

The seventh prototype was the first to be designed as a fighter and was first flown in 1939.

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.

Ju 88A

Mistel

The first Mistel prototype was completed in mid 1943. It was a converted Junkers Ju 88A-4 with a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on top. The first flights of the Mistel occurred in July 1943.

Ju 88C

The Ju 88C prototype was first flown in 1939. It was powered by a Junkers Jumo 211B (1,200 HP) engine.

Ju 88D

The Junkers Ju 88D was based on the Ju 88A-4 airframe.

The Ju 88D had cameras and extra fuel in the bomb bay.

All of the dive bombing equipment was removed, including the dive brakes.

Ju 88G

The prototype of the Ju 88G first flew in early 1944. It had a FuG 217 radar, two 20 mm in the nose, and four 20 mm in the ventral tray.

Ju 88S

The prototype of the Ju 88S was first flown in late 1943.

Production

Total production of the bomber and reconnaissance versions was 10,774.

• Junkers Ju 88A-0: 20
• Junkers Ju 88A: Over 7,000
• Junkers Ju 88A-1: 60 produced by end of 1939.
• Junkers Ju 88B: 10
• Junkers Ju 88C and Junkers Ju 88R: ~3,200
• Junkers Ju 88D: ~2,000
• Junkers Ju 88G: ~2,800
• Junkers Ju 88H, Junkers Ju 88S, and Junkers Ju 88T: ~550
  • Junkers Ju 88H-1: 10
  • Junkers Ju 88H-2: 10
• Junkers Ju 88P-1: ~40
• Total: 14,980, >16,000
  • Manufacturer: Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke A.G.
  • Production: 1939 - 1945

Variants

• Junkers Ju 88V7: First fighter prototype. Had Junkers Jumo 211B engines.
• Junkers Ju 88A-0: Pre production. Had Jumo 211B engine.
• Junkers Ju 88A: Some versions were powered by the BMW 801 instead of the Jumo 211.
• Junkers Ju 88A-1: Entered service in September 1939.
• Junkers Ju 88A-2: Had rocket assist takeoff.
• Junkers Ju 88A-3: Dual control trainer. Converted from Ju 88A-1s.
• Junkers Ju 88A-4: Entered service in 1940. Had additional armament and larger wing span. Stronger landing gear.
• Junkers Ju 88A-4 Trop: Tropical version used in North Africa.
• Junkers Ju 88A-5: Wider wing span. Used Junkers Jumo 211G engine. Could carry larger bomb load. Balloon cable cutter added.
• Junkers Ju 88A-6: Balloon cable cutter added.
• Junkers Ju 88A-6/U: Maritime bomber. Crew of three. Had a search radar.
• Junkers Ju 88A-7: Trainer with dual controls. Based on Ju 88A-5.
• Junkers Ju 88A-8: Had balloon cable cutting equipment.
• Junkers Ju 88A-9: Tropical version of Ju 88A-1.
• Junkers Ju 88A-10: Tropical version of Ju 88A-5. Used Junkers Jumo 211B or Ju 211G engines.
• Junkers Ju 88A-11: Tropical version of Ju 88A-4.
• Junkers Ju 88A-12: Trainer with dual controls.
• Junkers Ju 88A-13: Ground attack. Had heavier armor. 16 forward firing guns.
• Junkers Ju 88A-14: Based on Ju 88A-4. Had balloon cable cutters.
• Junkers Ju 88A-15: Bomb bays made larger by bulging outwards. Could carry 6,614 lb / 3,000 kg bombs.
• Junkers Ju 88A-16: Trainer with dual controls.
• Junkers Ju 88A-17: Torpedo bomber. Could carry two torpedos.
• Junkers Ju 88B: The design was the basis for the Junkers Ju 188.
• Junkers Ju 88B-1: Experimental design.
• Junkers Ju 88B-2: Experimental design.
• Junkers Ju 88B-3: Experimental design.
• Junkers Ju 88C: Day and night fighters. Used Junkers Jumo 211 B, Ju 211 G, Ju 211 J, or BMW 801 engines.
• Junkers Ju 88C-0: Pre production. Were constructed from Ju 88A-1 frames. Guns were placed in a solid nose and a ventral gondola.
• Junkers Ju 88C-1: Originally designated the Ju 88Z. Short wing. Had Junkers Jumo 211B engines.
• Junkers Ju 88C-2: Longer wing. Had Junkers Jumo 211B engines. Two MG FF were carried under the fuselage.
• Junkers Ju 88C-3: Had BMW 801 engines. Due to shortage of engines were not produced.
• Junkers Ju 88C-4: Based on the Ju 88A-4 airframe. Ventral gondola could carry a 20 mm cannon or cameras.
• Junkers Ju 88C-5: Had BMW 801 engines. Due to shortage of engines were not produced. Crew of 2.
• Junkers Ju 88C-6: Night fighter. First appeared in 1942. Had 20 mm cannon in the upper fuselage that fired upwards.
• Junkers Ju 88C-6a: Heavy day fighter.
• Junkers Ju 88C-6b: Night fighter introduced in 1942. Had Lichtenstein radar. Used FuG 202 or FuG 212 radar.
• Junkers Ju 88C-7: Had BMW 801 engines.
• Junkers Ju 88D: Long range reconnaissance. Powered by Junkers Jumo 211D engines. No dive brake equipment. Inside the rear fuselage were two cameras. Extra fuel could be carried in the bomb compartments.
• Junkers Ju 88D-0: Pre production. Had Junkers Jumo 211B engines (1,200 HP). Two cameras were installed.
• Junkers Ju 88D-1: Main production version. Based on the Ju 88A-4.
• Junkers Ju 88D-2: Based on the Ju 88A-5.
• Junkers Ju 88D-3: Tropical version. Originally the Ju 88D-1/Trop.
• Junkers Ju 88D-4: Tropical version. Originally the Ju 88D-2/Trop.
• Junkers Ju 88D-5: Had Junkers Jumo 211G or 211J engines. Three cameras were installed.
• Junkers Ju 88D-5/Trop: Tropical version.
• Junkers Ju 88G: Night fighter. Had BMW 801 engines. Tail was modified and had additional armament. Based on the Ju 88C.
• Junkers Ju 88G-0: Pre production. The nose guns were removed.
• Junkers Ju 88G-1: Had the FuG 227 radar. First appeared in early 1944. Used BMW 801 D or 801 G engines.
• Junkers Ju 88G-2: Experimental equipment modifications.
• Junkers Ju 88G-3: Experimental equipment modifications.
• Junkers Ju 88G-4: Experimental equipment modifications.
• Junkers Ju 88G-5: Experimental equipment modifications.
• Junkers Ju 88G-6a: The equipment was improved.
• Junkers Ju 88G-6b: Had FuG 220 radar. Had the Schräge Musik system of upwards firing guns.
• Junkers Ju 88G-6c: Used Junkers Jumo 213 V 12 engines. The cowlings were annular.
• Junkers Ju 88G-7: Used Junkers Jumo 213 engines.
• Junkers Ju 88G-7a: Intruder. Had Junkers Jumo engines. The ventral weapons could be jettisoned. Had FuG 220 radar. The engines were optionally equipped with methanol water power boost.
• Junkers Ju 88G-7b: Intruder. Had Junkers Jumo engines. Had bomb racks under the wings. Used the FuG 228 or FuG 218 radar. The antennae were enclosed in a lengthened nose cone.
• Junkers Ju 88G-7c: Used FuG 240 radar. The antennae were enclosed in a shorter nose cone.
• Junkers Ju 88H-1: There were three cameras.
• Junkers Ju 88H-2: Longer fuselage that could carry more fuel fore and aft of the wings. Used BMW 801D (1,700 HP) engine.
• Junkers Ju 88H-3: Longer range than Ju 88H-1. Were used as Mistel (mistletoe) composite guided aircraft. Bf 109 or Fw 190 was mounted on top.
• Junkers Ju 88H-4: Longer range than Ju 88H-2. Were used as Mistel (mistletoe) composite guided aircraft.
• Junkers Ju 88P: Ground attack version with a solid nose like the Ju 88C. Could carry a 75 mm BK 7.5, 50 mm BK 5, or a 37 mm. There were plans to install a 88 mm Düka gun or a flame thrower.
• Junkers Ju 88P V1: Prototype with 7.5 cm KwK 39 in fairing under the front of the fuselage.
• Junkers Ju 88P-1: Had 7.5 cm PaK 40L.
• Junkers Ju 88P-2: Had two 3.7 cm BK guns under the front fuselage.
• Junkers Ju 88P-3: Additional armor for crew.
• Junkers Ju 88P-4: Had 5 cm BK 5 gun. One had a 6.5 cm RZ 65 rocket launcher with 22 rounds. Trials were done with 8.8 cm Düka 8.8 U-Boat gun and flame throwers but none became operational.
• Junkers Ju 88R: Night fighter. Had BMW 801 engines. Had 20 mm cannon in the upper fuselage that fired upwards.
• Junkers Ju 88R-1: Day fighter. Similar to Ju 88C-6a.
• Junkers Ju 88R-2: Night fighter. Similar to Ju 88C-6b.
• Junkers Ju 88S: Bomber with a top speed of 370 mph / 600 kph. Intended to fly at high altitudes. Powered by a BMW 801G that used nitrous oxide to boost the speed.
• Junkers Ju 88S-1: There was no ventral gondola. No dive brakes installed.
• Junkers Ju 88S-2: Used BMW 801TJ, turbo charged, engines (1,810 HP). Defensive armament was revised. The bomb bay bulged out from the bottom of the fuselage.
• Junkers Ju 88S-3: Had Junkers Jumo 213A-12 / 213 A engines with a GM1 nitrous oxide boost (2,125 HP).
• Junkers Ju 88T-1: Based on the Ju 88S-1. Used BMW 801 G engines.
• Junkers Ju 88T-2: Used Junkers Jumo 213 A engines.
• Junkers Ju 88T-3: When fully boosted, could go 400 mph / 644 kph.
• Junkers Ju 88 Mistel, Mistel 1: The Ju 88 was turned into a flying bomb with a fighter attached that would guide it to its target and release it.
• Mistel 1: Flying bomb. The front part of the fuselage was filled by four tons of explosives.
• Mistel 2: Used a Junkers Ju 88G-1. The guide plane was a Focke Wulf 190A-6.
• Mistel 3: Several versions developed.
• Mistel S: Trainers.
• Junkers Ju 136: Design based on the Ju 88 but with four engines. Started in September 1942 but never developed.

Usage

The Ju 88 series were used as bombers, escort fighters, night fighters, tank busters, torpedo bombers, transports, reconnaissance, and even other roles.

The Ju 88 was popular with it's crews because of its toughness and speed.

A Junkers Ju 88 was used as a test bed for one of the early jet engines.

First Combat

On September 26, 1939, Ju 88As were used on British shipping in the Firth of Forth.

Mistels Almost "Big Show"

In December 1944 60 Mistels were gathered in Denmark for a mission against the British Naval base at Scapa Flow. The bad weather caused its postponement and eventual cancellation.

In 1945 most of the Mistels that were left were used in attacks to destroy bridges in Germany.

Ju 88A

The Ju 88As were used by Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Romania.

The Junkers Ju 88A-1 started being delivered in the middle of 1939. On September 26, 1939, it was first made operational.

Mistel's First Use

The first use by the Mistel was on June 24, 1944, against Allied shipping. The mission was unsuccessful but four days later a successful mission damaged four Allied ships.

Ju 88C

The Ju 88Cs were used by Germany.

Poland

A few pre production Ju 88Cs were used in the invasion of Poland.

Battle of Britain

The Ju 88Cs were used in Battle of Britain.

Ju 88D

The Ju 88Ds were used by Germany, Hungary, and Romania.

From 1940 on, the Ju 88Ds were used in all of Germany's campaigns.

Hungary

Hungary received Ju 88D-1s in 1943.

Romania

Romania received Ju 88D-1s in 1943.

Ju 88G

The Ju 88G was used by Germany.

The Ju 88G entered service in the summer of 1944. It replaced the Ju 88C, Ju 88R, and Bf 110 night fighters as the Nachtjagdgeschwaders' standard equipment.

Effective Night Fighter

The Ju 88Gs destroyed more Allied bombers than all other night fighters combined.

Night Intruder

The Ju 88Gs continued to be used on night intruder missions over Britain until 1945. One Ju 88G was the last German plane shot down over Britain.

Ju 88R

The Ju 88Rs were used by Germany.

Ju 88S

Ju 88Ss were often used as a pathfinder. They also conducted attacks on Britain in 1944.

Specifications