Ju 88

Junkers · Germany · first flew 1936 · bomber

The Junkers Ju 88 was Germany's most versatile twin-engine combat aircraft, serving as bomber, dive bomber, night fighter and reconnaissance platform.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.36 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Bulbous, heavily framed 'beetle-eye' glazed nose with the crew grouped together
Slim engine nacelles with annular radiators that mimic radial cowlings
Underslung ventral gondola with a rearward-firing gun position

The clustered glazed nose, the radial-looking annular engine cowlings and the ventral gun gondola are the giveaways.

Specifications

The Ju 88 has a length of 14.36 m (47 ft).
It has a wingspan of 20.08 m (66 ft).
Its maximum speed is 510 km/h (317 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1936, the Ju 88 was conceived as a fast Schnellbomber and clustered its crew in a compact, heavily glazed forward cabin. Its adaptability kept it in production throughout the war in a bewildering array of roles.

Variants

The A-4 was the definitive bomber version with extended-span wings and Jumo 211J engines. The C and G series became formidable night fighters, while the Mistel composite turned redundant airframes into flying bombs.

Where you'll see it

Ju 88s ranged over Britain during the Battle of Britain and the night Blitz. A defecting crew flew a Ju 88R-1 night fighter to Scotland in 1943; that aircraft is preserved today at the RAF Museum Midlands at Cosford.

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