Junkers Ju88

The Ju 88 was the most versatile and among the most active of Germany's combat aircraft in World War Two. It began life as a front-line bomber, making its debut on 26 September 1939 by attacking British warships in the Firth of Forth. It continued in this anti-shipping role throughout the war but also underwent some impressive modifications to become the German equivalent to the Mosquito in respect of its diverse capabilities.
The medium bomber and dive-bomber, the Ju 88A, went through some 17 variants, ranging in their specializations from train- and tank-busting in the USSR to torpedo-armed anti-shipping operations in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
In total some 15,000 Ju 88s were built, and their breadth of service was not bettered. It played a major role in the Norwegian and French campaigns; in the Battle of Britain; and in the bombing raids over Russia, Britain, Italy, and Malta. The aircraft served in all theatres from North Africa to the Arctic. The Ju 88 also has the distinction of having been used in strength against Germany, numbers of the aircraft falling into Soviet hands after the collapse of the Axis satellite powers.
It was a multi-role aircraft; it became a night-fighter and intruder, very active on the Eastern Front before it was concentrated on the defence of the Reich in 1944; it undertook long-range reconnaissance work in every theatre, including out over the Atlantic; it was unsurpassed as a night-fighter when it finally assumed the role in 1944; and it was a very successful high-speed bomber. Its most bizarre claim to fame concerns the central part it played in the 'Mistel' unmanned attack aircraft programme.
German aviation historian Manfred Griehl has traced the technical development of this remarkable aircraft through all its various guises. The story on its own is a fascinating one, but when combined with the range of illustrations the author has assembled it becomes compelling — there are some 200 photographs and nearly two dozen line-drawings depicting the Ju 88 in its seemingly infinite varieties. This book is an appropriate tribute to a very fine aircraft.




by Manfred Griehl
Published by Arms and Armour Press 1990 1st edition, profusely illustrated, index, appendix, bibliography. 19x25 mint, d/j near mint.





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"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

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