World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseWhen Hermann Göring and the German Luftwaffe asked for a multi-role aircraft from the aircraft manufacturing firm Junkers, the Ju 88 design became the answer. The versatile twin-engined aircraft entered the war the very same day Germany invaded Poland, with various variations of them each suitable for level bombing, torpedo bombing, dive bombing, close ground support, and reconnaissance. Of these requested features, dive bombing was the item that changed the design the most as the strengthened fuselage, dive brakes, and other dive bombing related enhancements nearly doubled the weight. By the end of 1939, only 60 were delivered to Luftwaffe units, but the individual crews, which was comprised of a pilot, an observer, a radio operator/rear gunner, and a flight engineer/waist gunner, provided a favorable review during the first few missions with these new bombers, especially commenting that they could absorb a great deal of damage in action; one of the few complaints was that they were difficult to handle on takeoffs and landings. The crew members sat close together in the aircraft for the purpose of improved communications. During the Battle of Britain, Ju 88 aircraft were put to the test. To Göring's disappointment, they did not perform as well as expected. Even though they were very fast for bombers, they were still unable to escape the faster and more maneuverable British Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. The heavy losses prompted several refittings of the aircraft, including heavier armor in the cockpit area and upgraded defensive weaponry. During the later stages of the war when Germany was subjected to regular night time bombings by the British, Ju 88 aircraft were employed as night fighters, proving their versatile nature. By the end of the war, they were nearly perfected, coupled with a more powerful engine, but by then it was already too late for Germany.

Ju 88 Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

Ju 88C-6c

Machinery	Two liquid cooled, 12-cylinder inverted-Vee, Junkers Jumo 211J-1 (or J-2) rated at 1,340hp each
Armament	3x20mm machine guns, 3x7.9mm machine guns, 1x13mm machine gun, optional 2x20mm machine guns, 3,000kg load of bombs
Crew	3
Height	5.06 m
Wing Area	54.50 m²
Weight, Empty	9,060 kg
Weight, Loaded	12,350 kg
Speed, Maximum	488 km/h
Speed, Cruising	423 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,900 m
Range, Normal	1,980 km

Ju 88G-1

Machinery	Two 14-cylinder, air cooled, BMW 801D-2 radials rated at 1,700hp each
Armament	4x20mm machine guns, 1x13mm machine gun, optional 2x20mm machine guns, 3,000kg load of bombs
Crew	3
Span	20.08 m
Length	15.50 m
Height	5.07 m
Wing Area	54.50 m²
Weight, Empty	9,081 kg
Weight, Loaded	13,095 kg
Weight, Maximum	14,690 kg
Speed, Maximum	573 km/h
Service Ceiling	8,840 m
Range, Normal	2,500 km

Ju 88G-7b

Machinery	Two liquid cooled, 12-cylinder inverted-Vee, Junkers Jumo 213E rated at 1,725hp each
Armament	4x20mm machine guns, 2x20mm machine guns, optional 2x20mm machine guns, 3,000kg load of bombs
Crew	3
Height	4.85 m
Wing Area	54.50 m²
Weight, Empty	9,300 kg
Weight, Loaded	13,100 kg
Weight, Maximum	14,675 kg
Speed, Maximum	626 km/h
Speed, Cruising	560 km/h
Service Ceiling	10,000 m
Range, Normal	2,250 km

Ju 88A-4

Machinery	Two Junkers Jumo 211J liquid-cooled inverted V-12 engine rated at 1,401hp each
Armament	1x7.92mm forward MG 81J machine gun, 2x7.92mm dorsal MG 81J machine guns, 1x2x7.92mm ventral MG 81Z twin machine gun, up to 3,000kg of bombs or 2x LT torpedoes
Crew	4
Span	20.08 m
Length	14.36 m
Height	5.07 m
Wing Area	54.70 m²
Weight, Loaded	8,550 kg
Weight, Maximum	14,000 kg
Speed, Maximum	510 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,000 m
Range, Maximum	2,430 km

Ju 88P-3

Machinery	Two Jumo 211J-2 inverted V-12 engines rated at 1420hp each
Armament	4x37mm ventral BK 37 cannons, up to 6x7.92mm machine guns
Crew	3
Span	20.00 m
Length	14.85 m
Height	4.85 m
Wing Area	54.56 m²
Weight, Empty	11,080 kg
Weight, Maximum	12,670 kg
Speed, Maximum	360 km/h
Service Ceiling	5,500 m
Range, Maximum	1,580 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Bill says:
21 Dec 2013 09:55:25 AM

ESCAPE: DESTINATION SWITZERLAND

On April 30,1945 Junkers Ju-88G-6 code(C9+AR)of
8./NJG 5 flown by Hauptmann Hopf, Oberleutnant
Dressler, Oberleutnant Erhard and their wives and one child, took off at 01:30hrs, flying low to avoid allied fighters they landed at Dubendorf airfield at 05:15hrs.

Interned by Swiss authorities details about the crew and passengers and what happened after they arrived in Switzerland, haven't surfaced but it would be an interesting account of their escape.

LEAVE NOW OR NEVER:

How did they manage to smuggle their wives and child aboard, fuel the aircraft, how did they manage to take off without authorization. Everything must have been planned to the last minute, escape Germany the skill in airmanship, flying low to avoid allied fighters and arrive in Switzerland.

Swiss Air Force personnel took charge of the Ju88
all Luftwaffe markings were painted out and replaced with Swiss markings. In 1949 the Swiss decided to have the aircraft scrapped. It would be something to see it in the Swiss Air Force Museum today...

To learn more about the Junkers Ju88 please click on all the file photographs...