BWPicJu-88

Although best known in its role as a twin engine medium bomber the
Ju-88 manufactured by Junkers became one of the top multi-role
aircraft of the Second World War. Perhaps befitting its ubiquitous
status as a bomber, torpedo bomber, dive bomber, fighter-bomber,
night fighter, heavy fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and more; the
Ju-88 was also the most produced twin engine German aircraft of
WWII; with approximately 15,000 built. In spite of its widespread use
the Ju-88 started off under auspicious circumstances as its
development ground forward through delay after delay. For instance,
though having first flown late in 1936, the Luftwaffe did not put its
first Ju-88 squadron into the air until the onset of the Second World
War.

The Ju-88's developmental problems stemmed from a number of
reasons including attempts to create additional roles for an aircraft
whose initial design was tailored to the requirement for a fast, level
flight, medium bomber. For example, though the Ju-88 proved quite
adept as a dive-bomber; its airframe could not take the stresses
imposed by vertical bombing, even after extensive modifications. That
said, the Ju-88 could deliver ordnance with a high degree of accuracy
in more of a "glide bombing" role, with the aircraft attacking at a
shallower 45 degree angle; sparing the worst of the wear and tear
otherwise imposed by dive bombing.

Beyond facing the burdens imposed by adding numerous roles to the
Ju-88s initial mandate as a level flight medium bomber, came the
normal issues associated with creating a mature combat aircraft. As
such, when the Ju-88 saw its first significant combat, during the
Battle for France and the Battle of Britain, it endured heavy losses -
including the highest losses of any German level flight bomber
deployed during the Battle of Britain with Ju-88 losses exceeding
Do-17 and He-111 losses in spite of the presence of fewer Ju-88s in
the battle than either of its two peers. By the end of the Battle of
Britain however, many of the problems afflicting the aircraft;
especially in propulsion, defensive armament and defensive armor, had
been addressed. Consequently, late in 1940 the Ju-88 began to come
into is own as a capable multi-role aircraft; able to mount a
tremendous range of specialized equipment and firepower to meet the
various mission parameters assigned to its crews.

Picture Courtesy of Deutsches Bundesarchiv (German Federal
Archive), Bild 101I-407-0686-39