Junkers 87 Stuka - Few aircraft have ever been as terrifying to experienced ground troops and helpless civilians as the Luftwaffe's Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber. The Ju-87, widely known as the "Stuka" from the German for dive bomber ("Sturzkampfflugzeug"), was one of the first aircraft designed with such tactics in mind. The dive bomber earned its reputation as an aircraft to be feared in the Polish campaign, where it excelled in close support of ground forces.
Even with the Battle of Britain, the Ju 87 fought on every front between 1939 and 1945. It was adapted and used in many roles during the war. The Ju 87's fixed undercarriage provided firmer platforms for take-off and landing, and improved airfields in the field, but at the expense of airspeed due to drag. However, it also had some advanced features for the era, including blackout of the pilot and a device that pulled the aircraft out of the plane in a steep dive if control was lost.
Junkers 87 Stuka
It was the first fighter aircraft used in World War II. When Germany launched its invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the Luftwaffe had 366 Ju 87s ready for service, and three of them flew the first bombing mission of the war, actually launching the attack eleven minutes before Germany's official declaration of hostilities. The mission was to destroy Polish demolition charges attached to the bridges over the Vistula River in Tirza. However, the mission failed and the Poles destroyed the bridge before the Germans could reach it.
Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 87 G 2 Stuka 'tankbuster' Relic Display
Although known for its attacks on ground forces, the Ju 87 Stuka sank more ships than any other aircraft type in history. Like the US Navy's Douglas SPT, the Stuga was well-suited as an anti-ship weapon, and Ju 87 pilots quickly learned to attack from behind, dive at a 45-degree angle, and ship evasive behavior. Ju 87s were successfully used against the Polish fleet, which destroyed almost the entire fleet in port, disabled two Allied ships and sank several destroyers and sloops, and during the invasion of Norway, and later Allied evacuation ships at Dunkirk.
Later in the war, the Ju 87G "Gustav" was used on the Eastern Front against Soviet armor. Powered by a Junkers Jumo 211 engine, and fitted with two specially modified Flak 18 37mm high-velocity anti-aircraft guns, the aircraft were effective at targeting the relatively thinly armored rear areas of Soviet tanks.
Hans-Ulrich Rudel of the Luftwaffe became Germany's most decorated fighter pilot, despite only shooting down nine enemy aircraft. However, he successfully destroyed about 500 Soviet tanks, the equivalent of more than three tank corps of the Red Army during the war.
Although Germany never completed construction of its aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin, a small batch of Ju 87s were built for naval use. These Ju-87C models had folding wings and could carry one torpedo. Some of the completed aircraft were operated from ground platforms instead.
Zvezda 6123 1:144 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Although approximately 6,000 Stuka dive bombers were produced, there are only two surviving aircraft in the world today. One is a ground attack variant at the Royal Air Force Museum outside London, and the other is at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. A third aircraft is recovered from two wreckages to airworthy condition. It is owned by the late Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington.
Now a 1945 senior editor, Peter Susieu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to over four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He writes frequently on military hardware and is the author of several books on military headgear. A collection of military helmets, available on Amazon.com. Peter is a contributing writer for Forbes magazine.
Expert Biography: 1945 Senior Editor Peter Soucew is a Michigan-based author who has contributed more than 3,000 published pieces to four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites in a twenty-year journalistic career. He writes regularly on military hardware, firearms history, cyber security, and international affairs. Peter is a contributing writer for Forbes magazine. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
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