Junkers Ju 88

The Junkers Ju 88 was a versatile German twin‑engine aircraft designed by the Junkers company in the mid‑1930s. First flying in 1936, it entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1939 and quickly became one of the most widely produced combat planes of World War II, with more than 15,000 units built. Originally conceived as a fast medium bomber, the Ju 88’s all‑metal, low‑wing monoplane structure featured a robust Junkers‑type retractable landing gear, a streamlined nose, and a tapered wing equipped with leading‑edge slats and split flaps that gave it excellent handling at low speeds. Powered by two BMW 801 or Daimler‑Benz DB 601 engines, it could reach speeds of up to 470 km/h (290 knots) and carry a bomb load of up to 2,500 kg.

The aircraft’s modular design allowed rapid conversion among bomber, dive‑bomber, night‑fighter, torpedo‑bomber, and reconnaissance roles, a flexibility rarely matched at the time. Its night‑fighter variants, equipped with upward‑firing cannons and radar, proved especially effective against Allied bombers. The Ju 88’s longevity – serving in post‑war air forces into the 1960s – and its influence on later multi‑role designs underscore its lasting impact on aviation history.

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