Junkers Ju 87
Ju 87 | |
---|---|
Ju 87Ds in October 1943 | |
Role | Dive bomber |
Manufacturer | Junkers |
Designer | Hermann Pohlmann |
First flight | 17 September 1935 |
Introduction | 1936 |
Retired | 1945 (Luftwaffe) |
Primary users | Luftwaffe Regia Aeronautica Royal Romanian Air Force Bulgarian Air Force |
Number built | Estimated 6,500[a] |
The Junkers Ju 87 or Ju 87 was a German light bomber of World War II. It was used like a dive bomber.[1] Its crew was a pilot with a navigator behind him. He also handled the mobile machine gun. The Ju 87 could drop 500 kg of bombs. Some Ju-87 were modified for attack against tanks. It was built at more than 6 500 ex.
Its universally known like Stuka,[2] abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug, German translation of dive bomber.
History
The plane was designed by Hermann Pohlmann. It has first flight 17 September 1935. The first time it was used in battle was 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Junkers Ju 87 attacked Guernica.
In World War II, Ju-87 were used for bombing against Poland, and after against Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Greece. By the Battle of Britain Junkers Ju87 were used to attack[3] Dover, Folkestone and other harbours of the English Channel. This aircraft was very famous for its siren whose whistling panicked people. Many Ju-87 were used in the Soviet Union against Soviet troops. In the Battle of Stalingrad, they were used to bomb the town.
Similar aircraft
References
Bibliography
- Eisenbach, Hans Peter (2009). Fronteinsa¨tze eines Stuka-Fliegers Mittelmeer und Ostfront 1943 - 44. Helios, Aachen. ISBN 9783938208960.
- Mondey, David (1996). Axis Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press, London. ISBN 1851529667.