JU-88C-6
This aircraft was built by Bill "Spitfrnd" Wilson using version 2.82.104 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. It is based on the stock MS JU88C-6.
The new historically correct paint by Dan Swart represents a Ju88C-6 of V Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 40 operating from Lorient, France in 1943. The history of KG-40 is written in the book Bloody Biscay by Chris Goss relates the initial tribulations of the unit and its battles against overwhelming odds to its eventual annihilation over the Normandy beaches in June 1944.
The Junkers Ju88 was without question the most versatile aircraft in the Luftwaffe stable during the Second World War. From its origins as a specification for a high speed three seat bomber or "Schnellbomber", the airframe spawned a plethora of variants that were used in roles as diverse as strategic bombing, dive bombing, torpedo bombing, reconnaissance, close air support, bomber interception, night fighting and bomber and naval escort and as a pilot-less missile. The subject of countless revisions, it remained in service through the end of the war.
While the aircraft is best known in its medium bomber role, its interceptor variants became the most important night fighters in the Luftwaffe arsenal. The speed and maneuverability of the early Ju88 prototypes soon revealed the airframe's potential as a "Zestorer" or heavy fighter. The first fighter prototype of the series, the Ju88V7, powered by two Jumo 211B-1 1,100 inverted V engines, reached a speed of 312 mph at 13,120 feet in trials during late 1938.
While this lead to a planned "C" model fighter, the Reich’s early war focus on bomber production diverted resources from further development of this type until the summer of 1940. Since the BMW 801MA engines intended for the C were being allocated on a priority basis to the FW190A, the first operational Ju88 fighter was the C-2, a simple conversion of the Ju88A-1 bomber powered by Jumo 211B-1s and adding fixed forward firing armament comprised of one 20mm cannon and three 7.92 MG 17 machine guns.
The C-4 was the first variant designed specifically as a fighter and incorporated the improvements in wing span, armor and structural reinforcement made in the Ju88A-4 bomber. The Ju88C-6 was the first fighter in the series to be produced in substantial numbers and was intended for both day and night fighting duty.
The C-6 was typically armed with three 7.9 MG 17 machine guns and one MG FF/M in the nose and two more 20mm MG FF/M cannons in the gondola. It also retained the two rear mounted 7.9 upper canopy machine guns from the bomber series but the lower position and copilot machine guns were usually omitted.
The Ju88C-6a was designated a day fighter and used for fighter bombing, shipping interdiction and less frequently for long range escort. The Ju88C-6b and c models were generally dedicated to night bomber interception. Some versions carried nose mounted "Lichtensen" radar and others added a pair of remote controlled upward firing 20mm MG 151 "Schage Musik" (Jazz Music) cannons. The Ju88C-6 series proved quite deadly as a night fighter. For example, in one two month period in early 1944, Ju88C-6s destroyed 342 RAF bombers out of 3759 sorties. The Ju88C-6 paved the way for even better performing variants of the line, like the Ju88R and G models. Over 6000 Ju88 fighter variants were produced and continued to form the core of the Luftwaffe's night bomber defense through the end of the war.
This aircraft was built by Bill "Spitfrnd" Wilson using version 2.82.104 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. It is based on the stock MS JU88C-6.
The new historically correct paint by Dan Swart represents a Ju88C-6 of V Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 40 operating from Lorient, France in 1943. The history of KG-40 is written in the book Bloody Biscay by Chris Goss relates the initial tribulations of the unit and its battles against overwhelming odds to its eventual annihilation over the Normandy beaches in June 1944.
The Junkers Ju88 was without question the most versatile aircraft in the Luftwaffe stable during the Second World War. From its origins as a specification for a high speed three seat bomber or "Schnellbomber", the airframe spawned a plethora of variants that were used in roles as diverse as strategic bombing, dive bombing, torpedo bombing, reconnaissance, close air support, bomber interception, night fighting and bomber and naval escort and as a pilot-less missile. The subject of countless revisions, it remained in service through the end of the war.
While the aircraft is best known in its medium bomber role, its interceptor variants became the most important night fighters in the Luftwaffe arsenal. The speed and maneuverability of the early Ju88 prototypes soon revealed the airframe's potential as a "Zestorer" or heavy fighter. The first fighter prototype of the series, the Ju88V7, powered by two Jumo 211B-1 1,100 inverted V engines, reached a speed of 312 mph at 13,120 feet in trials during late 1938.
While this lead to a planned "C" model fighter, the Reich’s early war focus on bomber production diverted resources from further development of this type until the summer of 1940. Since the BMW 801MA engines intended for the C were being allocated on a priority basis to the FW190A, the first operational Ju88 fighter was the C-2, a simple conversion of the Ju88A-1 bomber powered by Jumo 211B-1s and adding fixed forward firing armament comprised of one 20mm cannon and three 7.92 MG 17 machine guns.
The C-4 was the first variant designed specifically as a fighter and incorporated the improvements in wing span, armor and structural reinforcement made in the Ju88A-4 bomber. The Ju88C-6 was the first fighter in the series to be produced in substantial numbers and was intended for both day and night fighting duty.
The C-6 was typically armed with three 7.9 MG 17 machine guns and one MG FF/M in the nose and two more 20mm MG FF/M cannons in the gondola. It also retained the two rear mounted 7.9 upper canopy machine guns from the bomber series but the lower position and copilot machine guns were usually omitted.
The Ju88C-6a was designated a day fighter and used for fighter bombing, shipping interdiction and less frequently for long range escort. The Ju88C-6b and c models were generally dedicated to night bomber interception. Some versions carried nose mounted "Lichtensen" radar and others added a pair of remote controlled upward firing 20mm MG 151 "Schage Musik" (Jazz Music) cannons. The Ju88C-6 series proved quite deadly as a night fighter. For example, in one two month period in early 1944, Ju88C-6s destroyed 342 RAF bombers out of 3759 sorties. The Ju88C-6 paved the way for even better performing variants of the line, like the Ju88R and G models. Over 6000 Ju88 fighter variants were produced and continued to form the core of the Luftwaffe's night bomber defense through the end of the war.
