Junkers Ju 88
Tactical bombing, Tactical · 1936
The Junkers Ju 88 was a German twin-engined multirole combat aircraft designed and manufactured by Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke before and during the Second World War. Initially conceived as a high-speed Schnellbomber, it was developed into a level and dive bomber, torpedo bomber, maritime-strike aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter, night fighter and ground-attack aircraft.
It was also used as the explosive lower component of several Mistel composite-aircraft combinations. The Ju 88 became one of the most important and versatile aircraft operated by the German Luftwaffe. The design originated in a Reich Air Ministry requirement for a fast medium bomber. Junkers chief designer Ernst Zindel directed the project, assisted by W.
H. Evers and Alfred Gassner. The first prototype flew on 21 December 1936. The performance of the third prototype led to the abandonment of the competing Henschel Hs 127 and Messerschmitt Bf 162. A subsequent requirement that the aircraft should also conduct steep dive-bombing attacks led to extensive structural and aerodynamic changes, delaying its entry into service and reducing the speed advantage of the original design.
