Warplanes of Germany: Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88

Junkers Ju 88

(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-417-1766-03A)

Junkers Ju 88, coded 3Z+H, in Luftwaffe service.

(RAF Photo)

Junkers Ju 88A-4, (Wk. Nr. 3457), 4D+DL, from I./KG30 was designated RAF EE205, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight. it is shown here being started up at Collyweston, Northamptonshire. Originally 4D-DL of 3/KG30, the aircraft landed by mistake at Broadfield Down airfield (Lulsgate Bottom), near Bristol, after a night raid on Birkenhead July 23/24 1941. It was taken on charge by the Royal Aircraft Establishment and, after tactical trials with the Air Fighting Development Unit, was flown to No. 1426 Flight, then at Duxford August 28 1942. In 1945 EE205 was transferred to the Enemy Aircraft Flight of the Central Fighter Establishment at Tangmere, Sussex, and finally to No. 47 Maintenance Unit for storage in November 1945. German markings have been temporarily re-applied to EE205 for film work

Junkers Ju 88R-1, (Wk. Nr. 360043), D5+EV from IV./NJG3.  Originally built as a Ju 88A-1 bomber in 1942, it was converted to R-1 standard early in 1943 for the night fighter role.  In May 1943, a three-man crew was ordered to intercept an unarmed BOAC Mosquito courier flight from Leuchars, Scotland flying to Stockholm, Sweden.  Two hours after their take-off, the aircrew of this aircraft defected to England, sending a fake message to their home base that they had a fire in the starboard engine.  The bomber descended to sea level and dropped three life rafts to make the search parties think the aircraft had ditched at sea.  The crew then few on to Scotland.  The aircraft was a significant acquisition for the RAF as this aircraft was fitted with the most up to date FuG 202 Lichtenstein B/C radar installation.  This aircraft was designated RAF PJ876 and underwent trials with the RAF Wireless and Electrical Flight section of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight.  It was acquired by the RAF Museum in 1978.  (RAF Photo)

Junkers Ju 88R-1, (Wk. Nr. 360043), D5+EV from IV./NJG3.  Acquired by the RAF Museum in 1978.  The antenna of the on this aircraft are replicas, as the entire radar system was removed from the aircraft for evaluation during the war.  It had been preserved in the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon, London, but is currently located at Cosford while the Hendon location is being upgraded.   (Dapi89 Photo)

Junkers Ju 88G-1, (Wk. Nr. 712273), 4R+UR from III./NJG2, landed in error at RAF Woodbridge when it became lost on a flight and ran out of fuel on 13 July 1944.  This aircraft was equipped with FuG220, FuG227 and FuG350 radars, making it an important intelligence find.  Designated RAF TP190, later AM231, this aircraft was flown 33 flights before it was scrapped at Farnborough after Oct 1945.  (RAF Photos)

(RAF Photos)

Junkers Ju 88G-6, (Wk. Nr. 620838) was captured at Flensburg.  Designated RAF AM3, later VK884, this aircraft was scrapped at Farnborough in 1945.  

(RAF Photo)

Junkers Ju 88G-6, (Wk. Nr. 622311) captured at Eggebek.  Designated RAF AM16.  This aircraft was scrapped in 1946.

(RAF Photo)

Junkers Ju 88G-6, (Wk. Nr. 623193), with FuG 240 Berlin cavity magnetron radar in the nose, captured at Grove, Denmark in may 1945.  This aircraft was designated RAF AM31, and is shown here at Farnborough in 1945.  It was scrapped at Skellingthorpe in 1947.

(USAAF Photos)

Junkers Ju 88A-4, (Wk. Nr. 4300227), captured at Foggia, Italy, in 1943.  It was repaired by the men of the 86th Fighter Squadron and flown from Italy to Wright Field on 5 Nov 1943 by 86th Fighter Squadron Comanche pilots.  USA FE-106, later FE-1599.  It appeared in war bond drives, and was finally returned to Wright Field in the summer of 1945 after being superficially damaged in Los Angeles.  It finally went to Freeman Field, Indiana, where it was used for spare parts until it was scrapped in 1946.  

 (Edgar Deigan Photos)

Junkers Ju 88G-6, (Wk. Nr. 620116), NJG3, designated RAF USA 21, transferred by the British to the USA.  Shipped to the USA it was designated USA FE-611, later T2-611.  This aircraft was scrapped at Freeman Field, Indiana in 1946.

(Goshimini Photo)

Junkers Ju 88D-1/Trop, (Wk. Nr. 430650), USA FE-1598, with Fritz X bomb, preserved in the National Museum of the USAF, Dayton, Ohio.

Junkers Ju 88D-1/Trop, (Wk. Nr. 430650) initially came to the RAF via a defecting Romanian pilot who landed in Cyprus on 22 July 1943.  RAF HK959 was flown to Egypt and transferred to the USAAF and flown to Wright Field,  over the South Atlantic route on 14 Oct 1943.  This aircraft was designated USA FE-105 and later FE-1598, and briefly USAAF (Serial No. 43-0650).  This aircraft is now preserved in the National Museum of the USAF, Dayton, Ohio.

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