Junkers Ju 88: The Twilight Years: Biscay to the Fall of Germany

By Chris Goss

Designed as a fast bomber that could outrun the fighters of the era, the twin-engine Junkers Ju 88 became one of the most versatile aircraft of the Second World War. Such was the success of the design that its production lines operated constantly from 1936 to 1945, with more than 16,000 examples being built in dozens of variants more than any other twin-engine German aircraft of the period. From an early stage it was intended that it would be used as a conventional light bomber and as a dive-bomber. As such, it served in the invasion of Poland, the Norway campaign, the Blitzkrieg and the invasion of France and the Battle of Britain. This latest volume in Frontlines Air War Archive examines the Ju 88s use in the latter years of the Second World War. The types use as a torpedo bomber or reconnaissance aircraft, as well as its deployment in Russia, over the Bay of Biscay and in the Mediterranean theater are all explored. Even its use in the Mistel flying-bomb is covered.In this selection of unrivaled images collected over many years, the operations of this famous aircraft in its twilight years are portrayed and brought to life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Feb 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473892385

Chris Goss

Having retired from the RAF with the rank of Wing Commander, CHRIS GOSS is a regular and highly respected contributor to major aviation publications in the UK, France and Germany.

Book preview

PART 1

OPERATIONS OVER RUSSIA

Groundcrew working on Ju 88 A-4s of 9./KG 51 in Russia during 1941.

A second view of Ju 88 A-4s of 9./KG 51 in Russia. The nearest aircraft is coded 9K+KT and both aircraft have the yellow Russian front fuselage band. The spinner colours also appear to be yellow.

Said to have been photographed at Rhein-Main in 1940, this Ju 88 A of III./LG 1 (the unit’s emblem of three birds flying over white and blue waves on a blue background is visible on the nose) has pale-painted Balkan front cowlings. This would therefore mean the photograph was taken from April 1941 onwards. The spinner colours are believed to be red, which would indicate 8 Staffel.

Mechanics working on a Ju 88 A of 4./KG 51, Russia, Summer 1941. Note the large radiator underneath the Jumo 211 J engine which necessitated a bulge to the cowling and identifies it as a Ju 88 A-4.

The first of a series of four photographs showing Luftwaffe groundcrew working on a Junkers Ju 88 during operations in Russia in the summer of 1941.

A ladder is required by this mechanic to enable him to work on the top of the Ju 88’s port engine.

Mechanics discussing the intricacies of the Jumo 211 J engine.

A mechanic examining the Jumo engine of a Junkers Ju 88.

The final image in the set depicting groundcrew at work on a Ju 88 on the Eastern Front.

Armourers take a rest from loading 50kg bombs to a Ju 88 A-4, that coded 9K+JM, of 4/KG 51, Russia, 1941.

A Ju 88 A-5 of 4./KG 51 fitted with two 900-litre auxiliary fuel tanks on the bomb racks. This aircraft is 9K+CM, which was flown by Feldwebel Robert Ciuraj, who can be seen on the left.

Another 4./KG 51 aircraft fitted with 900-litre auxiliary fuel tanks.

Seen from left to right are Leutnant Bernd Sartor (Beobachter), Oberfeldwebel Robert Ciuraj (Fluzeugführer), Feldwebel Albert Mittelmann (Bordschütz) of 4./KG 51. It has not been possible to identify the individual on the right. Sartor, Ciuraj and Mittelmann all went on to be highly decorated, all three receiving the Ehrenpokal. Sartor and Ciuraj, meanwhile, were also decorated with the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, whilst Sartor also received the Ritterkreuz.

A Ju 88 A of 4./KG 51, in this case that flown by Feldwebel Robert Ciuraj, attacking a Soviet airfield with SD2 anti-personnel bombs, June 1941.

Another view of the cockpit of Feldwebel Robert Ciuraj’s Ju 88 A.

An exterior view of the cockpit of Feldwebel Robert Ciuraj’s Ju 88 A of 4./KG 51.

Oberfeldwebel Robert Ciuraj and Leutnant Bernd Sartor of 4./KG 51 pictured have a cigarette by a stack of 50kg bombs. They are both wearing 10-76B kapok life preservers.

A Ju 88 A-5 of KG 77. The individual aircraft letter of G is outlined in white, though it has not been possible to identify the Staffel. Note what appears to be a fuselage band under the fuselage cross which would indicate early stages of Operation Barbarossa.

A Ju 88 A-5, Wk Nr 2192 and coded V4+CT, of 9./KG 1. At 16.55 hours on 21 September 1941, this aircraft, which had been badly damaged by three Soviet I-153 fighters,

Reviews for Junkers Ju 88

[falkeeins-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent volume on the Junkers Ju 88, presenting an overview of the aircraft and the men who flew it in most of the roles it undertook; bomber, intruder, long-range day fighter and reconnaissance. Night fighters are not covered. While Volume one focused on the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, Volume two, "the Twilight years- Biscay to the Fall of Germany" provides good coverage of the activities of the Ju 88 Gruppen in Russia and the Mediterranean and looks at reconnaissance and torpedo operations. Many of the more 'famous' Ju 88 pilots appear in this great collection of images such as Baumbach, Helbig, Herrmann and Hogeback along with some of the lesser known, such as the Eichenlaub winner Gruppenkommandeur III./KG 76 Hptm. Heinrich Schweickhardt. Schweickhardt and his crew went missing during a flight from Catania to Athen-Tatoi on 9 January 1943 after a radio message saying he was having engine trouble. This was after combat about 100 km west of Zakynthos. The aircraft was Ju 88 A-4 WNr. 142338 coded 'F1+GS'. Posthumously promoted to Major, he had flown around 400 missions. Hogeback qualifies as the Ju 88 bomber "aces of aces" with 500+ operational sorties and being one of only three Ju 88 pilots to receive the Knights Cross with Swords - we see him here in Russia with III./Lehrgeschwader 1 and later in as Kommandeur of III./KG 6. Captions are for the most part informative and extensive with mostly one picture reproduced per page - occasionally two. The title also features torpedo-carrying Ju 88s of KG 26 and the dive bombers of LG 1. Deployed early on in the Mediterranean, LG 1 would soon prove to be one of the most formidable and feared opponents of the Royal Navy. Under the orders of Kommandeur Helbig, the "Helbig flyers" of I./LG 1 as they were dubbed were responsible for sending a number of Allied ships to the bottom while KG 26 used Schiffssuchradar - shipping search radar FuG 200 Hohentwiel - to attack the Murmansk convoys in the Far North. Heavy fighters also receive a chapter - 'Battle over the Bay' covers both the well-known V./KG 40 and the little-known ZG 1 - and there is a small section at the end on the Misteln 'piggy-back' aircraft. Well worth adding to your library at 198 pages, slightly bigger than A-5 format softback..good value at the RRP

[robpalmer-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author is an acknowledged expert on the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War, and this book adds to his library. It follows on from a similar book about the Ju 88 in the early years of the war. The Ju 88 was one of the most versatile and widely used German aircraft of the war, and this book covers a range of its operations. These include over the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean, Reconnaissance aircraft, Torpedo operations, sorties over the Bay of Biscay, the latter years from 1943 until 1945, and the Ju 88 Mistel. What makes this book stand out is the quality and rarity of the photographs. This is not an area of military history that I claim to know much about, so I found it both interesting and moving looking through the photographs the author has included. There are useful captions to the photographs, but I admit I would like to have seen a little more information provided about the aircraft and the units that operated it. I accept there are other publications that cover the technical and operational detail of this aircraft, which may be why this is not included in this book.In conclusion, the main focus of this book are the photographs, and rightly so. They are superb and well-presented by the publishers. A welcome addition to my library, and highly recommended to anyone interested in this aircraft, or the air campaigns in the Second World War in general.