View source for Junkers Ju 88

{{Short description|German twin engine multirole combat aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Ju 88
| image = File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-363-2258-11, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88 (cropped).jpg
| image_border = yes
| caption = A Ju 88A over France in 1942
| type = {{ublist|class=nowrap |[[Tactical bombing|Tactical]]{{\}}[[Dive bomber|dive]]{{\}}[[torpedo bomber]] |[[Night fighter|Night]]{{\}}[[heavy fighter]] |[[Aerial reconnaissance|Reconnaissance aircraft]]}}
| manufacturer = [[Junkers]]
| designer = Ernst Zindel, W. H. Evers, and Alfred Gassner
| first_flight = 21 December 1936
| introduction = 1939
| retired = 1945 ([[Luftwaffe]]) <br> 1951 ([[France]])
| number_built = 15,183{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Tt7g_WEvE20C&dq=Junkers+Ju+88+production&pg=PA6 161]}}
| status = 
| primary_user = ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
| more_users = [[Finnish Air Force]] <br /> ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' <br /> [[Royal Romanian Air Force]]
| unit cost = 
| developed_from = 
| variants = [[Junkers Ju 188]]
}}

The '''Junkers Ju 88''' is a twin-engined [[multirole combat aircraft]] designed and produced by the [[Nazi Germany|German]] aircraft manufacturer [[Junkers|Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works]]. It was used extensively during the [[Second World War]] by the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' and became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the conflict.

The Ju 88 originated from a [[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'']] (RLM) requirement issued in 1934 for a new multipurpose aircraft. Junkers was one of several firms to respond, producing two separate design studies that produced both the Ju 85 and Ju 88. The design work was headed by Junkers' chief designer Ernst Zindel. The Ju 88 was envisioned to function as a so-called ''[[Schnellbomber]]'' ("fast bomber") that would evade [[interception]] by enemy fighters of its era by flying at high speed. On 21 December 1936, the first prototype performed its [[maiden flight]]. The performance of the third prototype was highly favourable, resulting in the competing [[Henschel Hs 127]] and [[Messerschmitt Bf 162]] being abandoned. During late 1937, the Ju 88 was developed into a heavy [[dive bomber]], but this feat proved to be too stressful for the airframe even with modifications.

A series of technical problems troubled the aircraft's development, delaying its introduction to squadron service from 1938 to September 1939, by which point the Second World War had already started. The Ju 88 first saw action with the Luftwaffe during the [[invasion of Poland]]. It would subsequently be deployed into numerous theatres of the conflict, including the [[Norwegian campaign]], the [[Battle of France]], the [[Battle of Britain]], the [[German invasion of Yugoslavia|invasion of Yugoslavia]], the [[German invasion of Greece|invasion of Greece]], the [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege of Malta]], the [[North African campaign]], and the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] amongst others. While the Luftwaffe was the primary operator of the Ju 88, numerous other nation's air services also flew the type in quantity during the war; these include the [[Finnish Air Force]], ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' and the [[Royal Romanian Air Force]].

The Ju 88 was one of the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s most important and heavily used aircraft during the Second World War. The aircraft, akin to several other German bombers of the era, served as a [[bomber]], dive bomber, [[night fighter]], [[torpedo bomber]], [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance aircraft]], and [[heavy fighter]]. Perhaps most unusually, it was adapted into a [[Mistel|flying bomb]] towards the [[End of World War II in Europe|end of the war]].{{sfn|Taylor|1969|p=178}} The assembly line ran constantly from 1936 to 1945, building in excess of 15,000 Ju 88s across dozens of variants, making it the most-produced twin-engine German aircraft of the period and the [[List of most-produced aircraft|second-most produced]] bomber of all time behind the four-engined [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]. Throughout its production run, the basic structure of the Ju 88 remained unchanged.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi pp. 118-119">{{harvnb|Angelucci|Matricardi|1978|pp=118–119}}.</ref>

==Design and development==
===Background===
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2017}}
The origins of the Ju 88 can be traced back to the [[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'']] (RLM) and the formulation of a new requirement in 1934 that called for a new multipurpose aircraft.<ref name = "smithkay 394"/> This requirement quickly attracted attention from much of the German aircraft industry. However, in August 1935, the RLM revised its requirements towards the concept of a ''[[Schnellbomber]]'', a high-speed bomber that lacked defensive turrets, seated a crew of three, and carried a payload of {{cvt|800|–|1000|kg}}.<ref name= "Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 71.">{{harvnb|Dressel|Griehl|1994|p=71}}.</ref> This requirement was issued to a total of four aircraft manufacturers, these being [[Focke Wulf]], [[Henschel]], [[Junkers]], and [[Messerschmitt]]; all firms except Focke Wulf opted to produce a response.<ref name = "smithkay 394"/>

Junkers design team opted to perform a pair of design studies in parallel; work began on 15 January 1936.<ref name = "smithkay 394"/> These studies subsequently produced two distinct, yet similar, aircraft, designated ''Ju 85''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hugojunkers.bplaced.net/junkers-ju85.html |title=Junkers Ju85 |website=The Hugo Junkers Homepage |last=Zoeller |first=Horst |date=22 November 2020 |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref> and ''Ju 88''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Junkers Ju88 |website=The Hugo Junkers Homepage |first=Horst |last=Zoeller |date=15 June 2018 |url=http://hugojunkers.bplaced.net/junkers-ju88.html |access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref><ref name = "smithkay 394">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=394}}.</ref> Both were twin-engined bomber aircraft, the main difference between the two being the Ju 85's use of a twin [[fin]] (and twin [[rudder]]) tail unit while the Ju 88 had a single fin (and rudder) tail unit instead. Following deliberation amongst officials, the RLM decided in favour of the Ju 88.<ref name = "smithkay 394"/> Accordingly, the passed-over Ju 85 was never put into service.{{sfn|Suchenwirth|1968|p=156}}

The detailed design work was performed by Junkers chief designer Ernst Zindel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geocities.com/hjunkers/ju_ju88_a1.htm |title=The Hugo Junkers Homepage Junkers Ju88 / Ju188 / Ju388 / Ju488 / Mistel |last=Zoeller |first=Horst |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027094637/http://geocities.com/hjunkers/ju_ju88_a1.htm |archive-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> He was assisted by Wilhelm Heinrich Evers and American engineer Alfred Gassner.<ref>Janowicz, Krzysztof, Junkers Ju 88 Vol. I, 2010, Kagero Oficyna Wydawnicza, Lublin, Poland, {{ISBN|8389088576}}</ref><ref name = "smithkay 394"/> Evers and Gassner had worked together at [[Fokker Aircraft Corporation of America]] where Gassner had been Chief Engineer.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} Junkers presented their initial design in June 1936, and were given clearance to build two [[prototype]]s (Werknummer 4941 and 4942).<ref name= "Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 71."/><ref name = "smithkay 394"/> The first two aircraft were to have a range of {{cvt|2000|km}} and were to be powered by two [[Daimler-Benz DB 600|DB 600s]]. Three further aircraft, Werknummer ''4943'', ''4944'' and ''4945'', were to be powered by [[Junkers Jumo 211|Jumo 211]] engines.<ref name= "Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 71."/> The first two prototypes, Ju 88 V1 and V2, differed from the V3, V4 and V5 in that the latter three models were equipped with three defensive armament positions to the rear of the [[cockpit]], and were able to carry two {{cvt|1000|kg}} bombs, one under each inner wing panel.

===Into flight===
On 21 December 1936, the aircraft's [[maiden flight]] was performed by the prototype Ju 88 V1, which bore the civil registration D-AQEN.<ref name = "smithkay 395">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=395}}.</ref> During its first flight, it managed to reach a speed of about {{cvt|580|kph}}. On 10 April 1937, the first prototype was lost in an accident.<ref name = "smithkay 395"/> The third prototype, Ju 88 V3, which made its first flight on 13 September 1937 and was the first to be powered by the Jumo 211A engine, participated in a series of extensive tests at the [[Rechlin]] experimental station. According to the aviation authors J.R. Smith and Antony Kay, the results of this evaluation were so positive that all work on the competing [[Henschel Hs 127]] and [[Messerschmitt Bf 162]] was abandoned quickly thereafter.<ref name = "smithkay 3956">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=395-396}}.</ref>

Upon reviewing the Ju 88's performance, [[Hermann Göring]], head of the ''Luftwaffe'', was reportedly ecstatic; it was allegedly viewed as an aircraft that could finally fulfil the promise of the ''Schnellbomber''.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} The streamlined fuselage was modelled after its contemporary, the [[Dornier Do 17]], but furnished with fewer defensive guns as a result of the belief still held that it could outrun late 1930s-era fighters. During March 1939, the fifth prototype set a {{cvt|1000|km}} closed-circuit record while carrying a {{cvt|2000|kg}} payload at a speed of {{cvt|517|kph}}.{{sfn|Winchester|2004|p=146}}<ref name = "smithkay 396">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=396}}.</ref>

[[File:Junkers Ju 88 360043 (right wing).jpg|thumb|Standard Ju 88 main landing gear installation, from the V6 prototype onwards]]
The first five prototypes had conventionally-operating dual-strut leg rearwards-retracting [[Landing gear|main gear]], however, starting with the V6 prototype, a main gear design debuted that twisted the new, single-leg main gear strut through 90° during the retraction sequence, much like that of the American [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]] fighter.<ref name = "smithkay 396"/> This feature allowed the main wheels to end up above the lower end of the strut when fully retracted{{#tag:ref|Animation<ref>[http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=319235 "Retraction."] ''rcgroups.com.'' Retrieved: 22 October 2010.</ref>|group=N}} and was adopted as standard for all future production Ju 88s, and only minimally modified for the later Ju 188 and 388 developments of it. These single-leg landing gear struts also made use of stacks of conical [[Belleville washer]]s inside them as their main form of suspension for takeoffs and landings.

By 1938, the design had received a series of radical modifications to adapt the Ju 88 to function as a "heavy" dive bomber in response to a request from the RLM.<ref name = "smithkay 396"/> These changes, which were first implemented on the V8 and V9 prototypes, included the strengthening of the wings, the addition of [[dive brake]]s, an extended [[fuselage]], and the number of crewmen being increased to four.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} 

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-122-26, Flugzeuge Junkers Ju 88, Montage.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 assembly line, 1941]]
During August 1938, ''Generalluftzeugmeister'' [[Ernst Udet]] had set out the [[Takt time|Takt system]] of construction for large state-owned firms, including Junkers.<ref name = "smithkay 397"/> Almost all of the [[Machine tool|tooling]] and [[Jig (tool)|jigs]] were produced at the company's facility in [[Schönebeck]]; the wing and tail sections were constructed at [[Halberstadt]] and [[Leopoldschall]] while the fuselage was originally produced as two separate shells that were brought together at [[Aschersleben]]. Later on, fuselage construction was broken down further, a decision that made it easier to produce the numerous variations of the Ju 88.<ref name = "smithkay 397"/> During early 1939, a pre-production batch of ten Ju 88A-0s was completed to conduct service trials of the type; the A-0 series were almost entirely identical to the Ju 88 V10 prototype.<ref name = "smithkay 3967"/>

As the outbreak of the Second World War approached, by the time ''Luftwaffe'' planners such as Udet had their opportunities to have their own "pet" features added (including dive-bombing by Udet), the Ju 88's top speed had dropped to around {{cvt|450|kph}}. The Ju 88 V7 was fitted with cable-cutting equipment to combat the potential threat of British [[barrage balloon]]s, and was successfully tested in this role; the V7 also had the Ju 88 A-1 "beetle's eye" faceted nose glazing installed, complete with the ''[[Gondola (airplane)|Bola]]'' undernose ventral defensive [[machine gun]] emplacement, and was put through a series of dive-bombing tests with {{cvt|250|and|500|kg}} bombs, and in early 1940, with {{cvt|1000|kg}} bombs. The A-1 series prototypes were Wrk Nrs 0003, 0004 and 0005. The A-1s were given the Jumo 211B-1 or G powerplants.{{sfn|Dressel|Griehl|1994|p=75}}<ref name = "smithkay 3967">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=396-397}}.</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-345-0780-14A, Frankreich, abgestürztes Flugzeug.jpg|thumb|left|Annular radiator on a wrecked Ju 88]]

The choice of annular [[Radiator (engine cooling)|radiator]]s for engine cooling on the Ju 88, which placed these radiators immediately forward of each engine and directly behind each propeller, allowed the cooling lines for the engine coolant and [[Motor oil|oil]]-cooling radiators (integrated within the annular design) to be as short as possible, with integral port and starboard air intakes for cooling the exhaust headers, the starboard inlet also supplying the inlet air for the supercharger.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

During autumn of 1938, Dr. Heinrich Koppenberg (managing director of Jumo) assured Göring that a production rate of 300 Ju 88s per month was definitely achievable; indeed, such a rate was achieved during 1940.<ref name = "smithkay 397">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=397}}.</ref> However, the pre-war ramping up of production was delayed drastically by developmental problems.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Although planned for a service introduction in 1938, the Ju 88 finally entered squadron service (with only 12 aircraft) on the first day of the [[invasion of Poland]] in 1939. Production was painfully slow at this point, only a single Ju 88 was being manufactured per week as problems kept cropping up. The Ju 88C series of heavy fighter was also designed in early 1940, but its existence was kept secret from Göring, as he only sought bombers at this time.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

===Dive bomber===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-528-2374-30, Flugzeuge Junkers Ju 88 über Kreta.jpg|thumb|Three Ju 88s in flight over [[Astypalaia]], [[Greece]], 1943]]

In October 1937, Ernst Udet had ordered the development of the Ju 88 as a heavy [[dive bomber]]. This decision was influenced by the success of the [[Junkers Ju 87|Ju 87]] ''Stuka'' in this role. The Junkers development centre at [[Dessau]] gave priority to the study of pull-out systems and [[dive brake]]s.<ref name= "Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 74.">{{harvnb|Dressel|Griehl|1994|p=74}}.</ref> The first prototype to be tested as a dive bomber was the Ju 88 V4 followed by the V5 and V6. These models became the planned prototype for the A-1 series. The V5 made its maiden flight on 13 April 1938, and the V6 on 28 June 1938. Both the V5 and V6 were fitted with four-blade propellers, an extra bomb bay and a central "control system".<ref name= "Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 74."/> Following the release of the bombs, the [[Elevator (aeronautics)|elevator]]s automatically moved to their full-up position to bring the aircraft out of its dive and into a climb.<ref name = "smithkay 397"/>

As a dive bomber, the Ju 88 was capable of pinpoint deliveries of heavy loads; however, despite all the modifications, dive bombing still proved too stressful for the airframe, and in 1943, tactics were changed so that bombs were delivered from a shallower, 45° diving angle. Aircraft and bomb sights were accordingly modified and dive brakes were removed. With an advanced ''Stuvi'' dive-[[bombsight]], accuracy remained very good for its time. The maximum bomb load of the A-4 was {{cvt|3000|kg}}, but in practice, standard bomb load was {{cvt|1500|–|2000|kg}}.{{sfn|Winchester|2004|p=147}}<ref name = "smithkay 399">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=399}}.</ref> Junkers later used the A-4 [[airframe]] for the A-17 torpedo carrier, which did not have the undernose ''Bola'' [[Gondola (airplane)|gondola]] for a ventral gun position.<ref name="Dressel and Griehl 1994, p. 74."/><ref name = "smithkay 399"/>
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-421-2069-14, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 preparing for take off, Tunisia, c. 1942–43]]

===Fighter-bomber===
The Ju 88C series of standard fighter-bomber versions from the C-2 onwards culminated in the '''Ju 88 C-6''', applying experience acquired with the A-4 bomber, equipped with the same Jumo 211J engines but replacing the "beetle's eye" nose glazing with a smoothly curved all-metal nose, pierced only by the barrels of its forward-firing offensive armament.<ref name = "smithkay 4034">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=403-404}}.</ref> The C-6 was used mostly as [[fighter-bomber]] and therefore assigned to bomber units. As a reaction to the increasing number of attacks on German shipping, especially on U-boats in the [[Bay of Biscay]], from July 1942 it started flying anti-shipping patrols and escort missions from bases in France.<ref name="Goss p10">Goss 1997, p. 10.</ref>

''V./[[Kampfgeschwader 40]]'' was specifically formed to operate the C-6. The aircraft of V./KG 40 (which was redesignated I./[[Zerstörergeschwader 1|''Zerstörergeschwader'' 1]] in 1943<ref name="Goss p121">Goss 1997, p. 121.</ref>) were a significant threat to antisubmarine aircraft and operated as escort fighters for the more vulnerable [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor]] maritime patrol bombers. Between July 1942 and July 1944, the Ju 88s of KG 40 and ZG 1 were credited with 109 confirmed air-to-air victories,<ref name="Goss p222">Goss 1997, p. 222.</ref> at a cost of 117 losses.<ref name="Goss p242">Goss 1997, p. 242.</ref> They were finally deployed against the Allied [[Invasion of Normandy]] in June 1944, incurring heavy losses for little effect before being disbanded on 5 August 1944.<ref name="Goss p174">Goss 1997, p. 174.</ref> Some Ju 88 variants were also used as radio controlled bombs in the [[Mistel]] [[composite aircraft]] configuration, by coupling a bomber filled with explosive with a fighter such as the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 56]] or the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109E]].

=== {{anchor|Attack bomber and bomber destroyer}} Attack bomber ===
[[File:Duitse Ju 88 I.KG 66 2000-644-001.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 in 1944]]

The '''Ju 88P''' was a specialized variant for ground attack and to function as a [[bomber destroyer]], designed starting from 1942<ref name="WarMachine">''War Machine'', Aerospace Publishing, 1983, p. 2374 (from the Italian version, De Agostini, [[Novara]], 1986).</ref> and produced in small numbers, using examples of the ''[[Rheinmetall BK-5|Bordkanone]]'' heavy calibre aviation autocannon series, which required the omission of the ''Bola'' undernose gondola for clearance. The prototype, derived from a standard Ju 88 A-4, was armed with a {{cvt|75|mm|in}} anti-tank<!-- The sources states it was a "7.5 KwK 39" but I didn't find traces of it here--> gun derived from the [[7.5 cm PaK 40]] installed in a large conformal [[gun pod]] under the fuselage. This was followed by a small batch of '''Ju 88 P-1''', which standardized the solid sheet metal nose of the C version for all known examples of the P-series, and used the new {{cvt|75|mm}} PaK 40L semi-automatic gun, also known as the ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 7,5]],<ref>[http://www.cockpitinstrumente.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/b/Bordwaffen/Bordkanonen/Bordkanone%20BK%207,5/flugzeug%20bordkanone%20bk%2075.html BK 7,5 development]</ref> which was also meant for use in both the later [[Henschel Hs 129#Hs 129 B-3|Henschel Hs 129B-3]] dedicated anti-armor aircraft, and a never-achieved production version of the [[Heinkel He 177#Variants|He 177A-3/R5]] ground-attack ''Flak''-suppression ''Stalingradtyp'' field-improvised version. The Ju 88P-1 was produced in some 40 units, but with the massive cannon installation resulting in a slow and vulnerable aircraft,<ref name="WarMachine" /> it was soon replaced by the '''Ju 88 P-2''', featuring two ''Bordkanone'' {{cvt|37|mm|in}} [[BK 37|BK 3,7]] guns, whose higher muzzle velocity proved useful against the Russian tanks in the Eastern Front. This aircraft was used by ''[[Erprobungskommando]]'' 25. The '''Ju 88 P-3''' also used the twin BK 37 guns, and added further armor for the crew, and was delivered at one ''[[Organization of the ''Luftwaffe'' (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel]]'' of the ''Nachtschlachtgruppen'' 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 for night attacks in the Eastern Front, in northern Norway (NSGr 8) and Italy (NSGr 9).<ref name="WarMachine" /> Finally, the '''Ju 88 P-4''' mounted a smaller-volume ventral gun pod housing a {{cvt|50|mm|in}} auto-loading ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 5 cannon]] (the same ordnance used for the field-improvised handful of ''Stalingradtyp'' He 177As created) and, in some cases, {{cvt|65|mm|in}} solid propellant rockets.<ref name="WarMachine" />

===Heavy fighter and night fighter===

====Ju 88C====
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-484-2984-31A, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88.jpg|thumb|Ju 88C series heavy fighter in flight]]
The Ju 88 V19 (W.Nr. 0373) was a test bed for the Ju 88C series.{{Sfn|Goss|Streetly|2023|p=10}} The Ju 88C was originally intended as a fighter-bomber and heavy fighter by adding fixed, forward-firing guns to the nose while retaining some bomb carrying ability of the A-series bomber. The C-series had a solid metal nose, typically housing one {{cvt|20|mm|in|3}} [[MG FF cannon]] and three {{cvt|7.92|mm|in|3}} [[MG 17 machine gun]]s. The aircraft retained the ventral ''Bola'' gondola under the crew compartment though individual units sometimes removed this to reduce weight and drag to enhance performance. The Ju 88C was later used as a [[night fighter]], and this became its main role.<ref name = "smithkay 4023">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=402-403}}.</ref>

The first version of the Ju 88C was the '''C-1''' with 20 aircraft converted from '''A-1''' airframes.<ref name = "smithkay 402"/> Some of them entered service in the ''Zerstörerstaffel'' of KG 30 which became part of II./NJG 1 in July 1940. The C-1 was followed by the '''C-2''' of which 20 aircraft were converted from A-5 airframes with enlarged wingspan. The '''C-4''' became the first production version with 60 produced and 60 converted from A-5 airframes. The '''C-6''', of which 900 aircraft were produced, was based on the A-4 airframe with more powerful engines and stronger defensive armament (single- or dual-mount belt-fed {{cvt|7.92|mm}} [[MG 81]] or {{cvt|13|mm|in|3}} [[MG 131]] instead of drum-fed MG 15 machine guns).

[[File:Lichtenstein-radar.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Matratze'' 32-[[dipole]] antenna for the Lichtenstein UHF radar]]
[[File:Junkers Ju 88 G-6 in Dübendorf (Ans 05035-258).jpg|thumb|right|Ju 88 G-6 with FuG 218 radar in 1945]]
The '''C-6''' as night fighter was typically equipped with [[Lichtenstein radar|FuG 202 ''Lichtenstein'' BC]] low-[[UHF]] band airborne intercept [[radar]], using the complex 32-dipole ''Matratze'' antennas. The first four C-6 night fighters were tested in early 1942 by [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 2|NJG 2]]. The trials were successful and the aircraft was ordered into production. In October 1943, many C-6s were upgraded with new radar systems. The first new radar equipment was the FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1. After the UHF-band Lichtenstein radars had been compromised to the Allies in the late spring of 1943, the next development in German AI radar was the [[VHF]]-band FuG 220 ''Lichtenstein'' SN-2, discarding the 32-dipole ''Matratze'' antennae for the much larger eight-dipole ''Hirschgeweih'' (stag's antlers) aerials, required for the longer wavelength SN-2 system.<ref name = "smithkay 401">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=401}}.</ref>

Many Ju 88C's had their Bola gondolas modified to hold up to two forward firing {{cvt|20|mm|in|3}} cannons. Several C-6 night fighters were equipped with two "Schräge-Musik" upward-firing {{cvt|20|mm}} cannons in trial fittings, and from mid 1943 onward, there was an official field modification kit available for this arrangement.

A small number of the C-series day fighters had their new solid-metal noses specially painted to resemble the bomber A-series' "beetle's eye" faceted clear view nose glazing, in an attempt to deceive Allied pilots into thinking the fighters were actually bombers; the unusual "camouflage" attempt did result initially in a number of Allied aerial losses.{{citation needed|date=October 2022|reason=cite to unreliable source removed. Suggest checking Wurger}}

====Ju 88R====
[[File:Junkers 88k2.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 R-1 night fighter captured by British forces at Copenhagen-Kastrup airfield, May 1945]]
The Ju 88R series night fighters were basically versions of the Ju 88 C-6, powered by [[Kraftei|unitized]] [[BMW 801]] radial engines. The R-1 had {{convert|1560|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on|order=out}} BMW 801L engines and the R-2 had {{convert|1700|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on|order=out}} BMW 801 G-2 engines.<ref name = "smithkay 404">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=404}}.</ref>

One of the first aircraft from the R-1 series that went into service (''Werknummer'' 360 043) was involved in one of the most significant defections from the ''Luftwaffe''. On 9 May 1943, this night fighter (D5+EV), which was stationed with 10./[[NJG 3]] in Aalborg Denmark, flew to the RAF Station at Dyce (now [[Aberdeen Airport]]) with its entire crew and complete electronic equipment on board. The fact that Spitfire Vb fighters No.165 (Ceylon) Squadron escorted it towards the end of its flight could indicate that its arrival had been expected.{{cn|date=March 2024}} It was immediately transferred to [[Farnborough Airfield]], received RAF markings and serial number PJ876, and was tested in great detail.<ref>Verlag 1994, p. 93.</ref> The preserved aircraft is on exhibit at the [[Royal Air Force Museum Midlands]], as one of the first two intact Ju 88s in aviation museums. The ''Luftwaffe'' learned of this defection only the following month when members of the crew, pilot ''Oberleutnant'' Heinrich Schmitt (son of the former secretary to the ministry for foreign affairs (1923–1929) Gustav Stresemann) and ''Oberfeldwebel'' Paul Rosenberger made broadcasts on British radio.{{sfn|Scutts|1998|p=47}}{{#tag:ref|See present-day photo of this aircraft in the "Survivors" section.|group=N}} The third crew-member, Erich Kantwill, refused to co-operate with the British and was treated as a regular [[prisoner of war]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

====Ju 88G====
All previous night fighter versions of the Ju 88 used a modified A-series fuselage. The ''G-series'' fuselage was purpose-built for the special needs of a night fighter, with the A-series' ''Bola'' ventral under-nose defensive gun position omitted for lower aerodynamic [[Drag (physics)|drag]] and less weight, and adding the enlarged squared-off [[Vertical stabilizer|vertical fin]]/[[rudder]] tail unit of the [[Junkers Ju 188|Ju 188]]. '''G-1''' aircraft possessed more powerful armament and like the earlier R-1, used a pair of {{convert|1700|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on|order=out}} [[BMW 801]] radial engines, the G-1 using the later BMW 801G-2 version. Electronic equipment consisted of the then-standard FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 90 MHz VHF radar using eight-dipole ''Hirschgeweih'' antennas, which could include fitment of the borderline-[[Super high frequency|SHF-band]] ''FuG 350'' [[Naxos radar detector]] with its [[Loop antenna|receiving antenna]] housed in a teardrop-shaped streamlined fairing above the canopy, or [[Flensburg radar detector|FuG 227 ''Flensburg'']] radar detector homing devices that had their own trio of twin-dipole antennae: one on each wing leading edge and one under the tail. One Ju 88G-1 of 7. ''Staffel''/[[Nachtjagdgeschwader 2|NJG 2]] was flown by mistake to [[RAF Woodbridge]] in July 1944, giving the Royal Air Force its first chance to check out the VHF-band Lichtenstein SN-2 radar and Flensburg radar detector gear.<ref>[[:File:Ju 88 woodbridge.pdf]]</ref><ref name = "smithkay 4101">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=410-411}}.</ref>

[[File:Ju88-berlin.jpg|thumb|A British-captured Ju 88 G-6 [[night fighter]] equipped with the FuG 240 Berlin [[cavity magnetron]] radar, with smooth [[radome]] nose]]

'''G-6''' versions were equipped with {{convert|1750|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on|order=out}} [[Junkers Jumo 213|Jumo 213A]] inverted V-12 engines (using the same redesigned annular radiator cores as the Ju 188s powered by them), enlarged fuel tanks and often one or two {{cvt|20|mm}} [[MG 151 cannon|MG 151/20 cannon]]s in a ''[[Schräge Musik]]'' ("Jazz Music", i.e. slanted) installation. These guns were pointed obliquely upwards and forwards from the upper fuselage – usually at an angle of 70°.<ref name = "smithkay 4101"/>

Some of the final G-series models received updates to the engines, using a pair of high-altitude Jumo 213E inverted V-12s with the same revised annular radiator design as the 213As already used, or to the radar, using the mid-VHF band [[Neptun radar|FuG 218 Neptun]] AI radar with either the standardized ''Hirschgeweih'' aerials with shorter dipoles to suit the higher frequencies used, or more rarely the advanced ''Morgenstern'' 90° crossed-element, six-dipole Yagi-form antenna. Only a very few Ju 88G-6 night fighters were ever fitted with the semi-experimental [[FuG 240 Berlin]] N-1 [[cavity magnetron]] based, 3&nbsp;[[gigahertz|GHz]]-band [[Super high frequency|(centimetric)]] radar, whose [[dish antenna]] was housed in a smoothly contoured [[radome]] on the G-6's nose.<ref name = "smithkay 411">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=411}}.</ref> Only about 15 of the Berlin systems were completed before [[V-E Day]].

Many ''Luftwaffe'' night fighter aces, such as [[Helmut Lent]] (110 victories) and [[Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein]] (87 victories) flew Ju 88s during their careers.

==Operational history==

===Initial operations and the invasion of Poland===
The first Ju 88s to be used in squadron service were assigned to the unit ''Erprobungskommando'' 88 (Ekdo 88), which was responsible for testing new bomber designs and their crews under hostile conditions.<ref name = "smithkay 399400">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=399-400}}.</ref> On 26 September 1939, the unit's first operation was conducted, during which multiple Ju 88s flew over the [[Firth of Forth]] with the intention of bombing any British warships present. It is generally believed that no meaningful damage was inflicted to any British vessel during this raid, although future attacks to this area by the type were often more successful.<ref name = "smithkay 400">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=400}}.</ref>

A total of 12 Ju 88s saw action during the [[invasion of Poland]]. Ekdo 88 selected 12 aircraft and their crews and attached them to 1./[[Kampfgeschwader]] 25.{{sfn|Weal|2000|p=8}}<ref name = "smithkay 399400">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=399-400}}.</ref> As a result of its small operational numbers, the type made no meaningful impact.

===Battle of Norway===
The Luftwaffe committed II./[[Kampfgeschwader 30|''Kampfgeschwader'' 30]] to the campaign under [[10th Air Corps (Germany)|X. ''Fliegerkorps'']] for [[Operation Weserübung]].{{sfn|Hooton|2007|p=32}}<ref name = "smithkay 400"/> The unit was equipped with Ju 88s and engaged Allied shipping as its main target. On 9 April 1940, Ju 88s of KG 30 dive-bombed, in cooperation with high-level bombing [[Heinkel He 111]]s of KG 26, and helped damage the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Rodney|29|6}} and sink the [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Gurkha|F20|6}}. However, the unit lost four Ju 88s in the action, the highest single loss of the aircraft in combat throughout the campaign.{{sfn|Hooton|2007|p=34}}

===Battle of France===
[[File:Ju 88A-1 Stab KG 51.jpg|thumb|Junkers Ju 88A-1 of the Stab/KG 51, June 1940]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-402-0270-05A, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88.jpg|thumb|Ju 88A, circa 1940]]

The Luftwaffe's order of battle for the French campaign reveals all but one of the Luftwaffe's ''Fliegerkorps'' ([[1st Air Corps (Germany)|I. ''Fliegerkorps'']]) contained Ju 88s in the combat role. The mixed bomber units, including the Ju 88, of [[Kampfgeschwader 51|''Kampfgeschwader'' 51]] (under the command of [[Luftflotte 3|''Luftflotte'' 3]]) helped claim between 233 and 248 Allied aircraft on the ground between 10 and 13 May 1940.{{sfn|Hooton|2007|p=62}}<ref name = "smithkay 400"/> The Ju 88 was particularly effective at dive-bombing. Between 13 and 24 May, I. and II./KG 54 flew 174 attack against rail systems, paralysing French logistics and mobility.{{sfn|Hooton|2007|p=66}} On 17 June 1940, Ju 88s (mainly from ''Kampfgeschwader'' 30) destroyed a "10,000 tonne ship", the 16,243&nbsp;grt [[ocean liner]] {{RMS|Lancastria}}, off [[Saint-Nazaire]], killing some 5,800 Allied personnel.{{sfn|Hooton|2007|p=88}} Despite this, the rival He 111 was more heavily used for offensive bombing during this campaign.<ref name = "smithkay 400"/> 

Some 133 Ju 88s were pressed into the ''[[Blitzkrieg]]'', but very high combat losses (as well as accidents) forced a quick withdrawal from action to re-train crews to fly this very high-performance aircraft. Some crews were reported to be more scared of the Ju 88 than the enemy, and requested a transfer to an He 111 unit.<ref>''Heinkel He 111''. Network Projects Production, 1993.</ref> By this time, major performance deficiencies in the A-1 led to an all-out effort in a major design rework. The outcome was a longer, {{convert|20.08|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[wingspan]], from extended rounded [[wing tip]]s that had already been standardised on the A-4 version, that was deemed needed for all A-1s; thus the A-5 was born.<ref name = "smithkay 399"/> Surviving A-1s were modified as quickly as possible, with new wings to A-5 specifications.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===Battle of Britain===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-402-0265-03A, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88, Startvorbereitung.jpg|thumb|A Junkers 88 A-1, of [[Kampfgeschwader 51|''Kampfgeschwader'' 51]] with its crew (1940)]]
By August 1940, A-1s and A-5s were reaching operational units just as the [[Battle of Britain]] was intensifying. On 11 August 1940, the first major bombing raid upon Britain by the Ju 88 was conducted against [[Weymouth Harbour, Dorset|Weymouth]] and [[Portland Harbour|Portland]].<ref name = "smithkay 400"/> Subsequent attacks that month were flown against targets in [[Portsmouth]], [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]], [[Driffield]], [[Brize Norton]], and [[Middle Wallop]]. On 7 September 1940, the Luftwaffe redirected its attacks towards London.<ref name = "smithkay 4001">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=400-401}}.</ref> From October 1940, as a result of the high loss rate, daytime bombing of Britain ceased in favour of night time bombing.<ref name = "smithkay 401">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=401}}.</ref>

The Battle of Britain proved to be very costly to the Luftwaffe. The Ju 88's higher speed did not prevent losses from exceeding those of its [[Dornier Do 17]] and Heinkel He 111 stablemates despite being deployed in smaller numbers than either. During 1940, Ju 88 losses over Britain totalled 303 aircraft between July and October 1940.<ref name="Weal2012" /> Do 17 and He 111 losses for the same period were 132 and 252 machines destroyed, respectively.<ref>[http://members.tripod.com/Rush_9/OoBob1.htm Aircraft Strength and Losses.]</ref>{{sfn|Cooksley|1990|p={{page needed|date=October 2024}}}} Amongst the factors responsible for the high loss rate were the poor coordination between Luftwaffe fighter and bomber aircraft and the austere conditions of the French airfields from where these bombers operated.<ref name = "smithkay 4012">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=401-402}}.</ref>

Of all the losses suffered by the Ju 88 at that time, however, a number were due to the tricky behaviour of the aircraft, especially when compared with the proven He 111, and to the crews' lack of experience on the type – many having converted to the Ju 88 only shortly before. Of the 39 losses recorded for July 1940, for example, only 20 were due to enemy action. The others being written off in training accidents, crashes, or malfunctions over mainland Europe.<ref name="Weal2012">{{harvnb|Weal|2000|p={{page needed|date=October 2024}}}}</ref> A series of field modifications were made to make the Ju 88 less vulnerable, including the replacement of the single MG 15 rear machine gun by a twin-barreled MG 81Z machine gun and the fitting of additional cockpit armour.<ref name = "smithkay 402">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=402}}.</ref>

One incident involved ground fighting between the crew of an A-1 and soldiers from the [[London Irish Rifles]] during the [[Battle of Graveney Marsh]] on 27 September 1940. It was the last action between British and foreign military forces on British mainland soil.<ref name=KO>{{cite web |first1=Ron |last1=Green |first2=Mark |last2=Harrison |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/forgotten-frontline-exhibition-t-a93111/ |title=Forgotten frontline exhibition tells how Luftwaffe fought with soldiers on Kent marshes |website=KentOnline |date=30 September 2009 |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>

Between January 1943 and April 1944, a smaller scale reprisal bombing campaign was waged using Ju 88s against the British mainland.<ref name = "smithkay 4156">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=415-416}}.</ref> On 21 January, almost every available bomber on the Western Front was dispatched to attack London. Attacks continued against various British cities for months but the number of aircraft in each raid dwindled.<ref name = "smithkay 416">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=416}}.</ref> In late April, in an attempt to disrupt preparations for the [[D-Day landings]], Ju 88s were redirected towards British ports along the southern coast; these were largely ineffective and thus were abandoned within the space of a month. By August 1944, the Luftwaffe's Ju 88 force had been heavily diminished.<ref name = "smithkay 4167">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=416-417}}.</ref>

===The Balkans and Greece===
The Ju 88 was used by VIII Fliegerkorps during the [[German invasion of Yugoslavia]] in April 1941. That same month, the type was also used during the [[German invasion of Greece]] (Operation Marita); at the start of the conflict, several Ju 88s dropped [[Naval mine|mines]] along the approaches to the harbour of [[Piraeus]] and bombed ships in the vicinity, which took the port out of action for weeks.<ref name = "smithkay 405">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=405}}.</ref>

During May 1941, the [[German invasion of Crete]] commenced. On 22 May, numerous Ju 88s, along with various other bomber aircraft of the Luftwaffe, attacked vessels belonging to the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Mediterranean Fleet]], reportedly sinking one cruiser, damaging two other cruisers and a single battleship in the process.<ref name = "smithkay 4056">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=405-406}}.</ref> Following the Italian surrender in 1943, Ju 88s were also used during the German invasion of the Italian-held Dodecanese Islands, which took place between September and November 1943.

===Eastern Front===
In advance of [[Operation Barbarossa]], a combination of [[Junkers Ju 86|Ju 86]]s and Ju 88s were used to systematically map out the western portion of the [[Soviet Union]] as part of Germany's pre-invasion preparations.<ref name = "smithkay 402"/> By the summer of 1941, most of the units equipped with the Dornier Do 17 were upgrading to the Ju 88. With a few exceptions, the majority of the Luftwaffe's bomber units were flying the He 111 and Ju 88 by this point.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

On 22 June 1941, the invasion commenced; the Ju 88 units met with instant success, attacking numerous enemy airfields and positions at low level and causing enormous losses for little damage in return. 3./[[Kampfgeschwader 3|''Kampfgeschwader'' 3]] attacked [[Pinsk]] airfield in the morning of 22 June 1941. It caught, and claimed destroyed, 60 Soviet bombers on the ground. The 39 SBAP Regiment of the 10 Division SAD actually lost 43 [[Tupolev SB]]a and five [[Petlyakov Pe-2]]s. Ju 88s from ''Kampfgeschwader 51'' destroyed over 100 aircraft after dispatching 80 Ju 88s to hit airfields. In general the Soviet aircraft were not dispersed and the Luftwaffe found them easy targets.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=14}} A report from the Soviet 23rd Tank Division of the 12th Armoured Corps described a low-level attack by Ju 88s on 22 June, resulting in the loss of 40 tanks. However, the Ju 88s were to suffer steady attritional losses. At 0415 on 22 June 1941, III./KG 51 attacked the airfield at Kurovitsa. Despite destroying 34 [[Polikarpov I-153]]s, the Ju 88s were intercepted by 66 ShAP I-153s. Six Ju 88s were shot down before the German fighter escort dealt with the threat.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=16}} By the end of the first day of the campaign, Ju 88 losses amounted to 23 destroyed.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=20}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-433-0881-25A, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88.jpg|thumb|Ju 88A of [[Lehrgeschwader 1|LG 1]] over the Eastern Front, 25 September 1941]]
Immediately following the initial attacks, it was decided to send Ju 88s to bomb [[Moscow]].<ref name = "smithkay 406"/> Over a hundred bombers were dispatched on these missions every night during the opening portion of the campaign. The air campaign against the Soviet capital was not sustainable in light of other demands, tapering down to only seven aircraft per night by December 1941.<ref name = "smithkay 406">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=406}}.</ref>

Due to the lack of sufficient numbers of Ju 87 ''Stukas'', the Ju 88 was quickly employed in the direct ground support role. This decision resulted in severe losses being incurred from ground fire. [[Kampfgeschwader 1|''Kampfgeschwader'' 1]], [[Kampfgeschwader 76|''Kampfgeschwader'' 76]] and [[Kampfgeschwader 77|''Kampfgeschwader'' 77]] reported the loss of 18 Ju 88s over enemy territory on 23 June. {{Not a typo|KG 76}} and KG 77 reported the loss of a further four Ju 88s, of which 12 were 100% destroyed.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=22}}

In the north, the VVS North-Western Front lost 465 aircraft on the ground, 148 of them bombers, to the Ju 88s of KG 1. A further 33 were damaged. Out of a total of 1,720 aircraft deployed by the VVS Northern Front on 22 June,{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=131}} it lost 890 and a further 187 suffered battle damage in eight days.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=29}} The Ju 88s units helped virtually destroy Soviet airpower in the northern sector. Again, the Ju 88 demonstrated its dive-bombing capability. Along with He 111s from KG 55, Ju 88s from KG 51 and 54 destroyed some 220 trucks and 40 tanks on 1 July, which helped repulse the Soviet South Western Front's offensive. The Ju 88s destroyed most rail links during [[interdiction]] missions in the area, allowing ''Panzergruppe 1'' to maintain the pace of its advance.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=39}}

Ju 88 units operating over the [[Baltic states]] during the battle for [[Estonia]] inflicted severe losses on Soviet shipping, with the same dive-bombing tactics used over [[Norway]], [[France]] and Britain. KGr 806 sank the Soviet destroyer ''[[Izijaslav class destroyer|Karl Marx]]'' on 8 August 1941 in [[Loksa Bay]] [[Tallinn]].{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=36}} On 28 August the Ju 88s had more success when KG 77 and KGr 806 sank the 2,026&nbsp;[[Gross Register Tonnage|grt]] steamer ''Vironia'', the 2,317&nbsp;grt ''Lucerne'', the 1,423&nbsp;grt ''Atis Kronvalds'' and the ice breaker ''[[Krišjānis Valdemārs (icebreaker)|Krišjānis Valdemārs]]'' (2,250&nbsp;grt). The rest of the Soviet "fleet", were forced to change course. This took them through a heavily mined area. As a result, 21 Soviet warships, including five destroyers, struck mines and sank. On 29 August, the Ju 88s accounted for the transport ships ''Vtoraya Pyatiletka'' (3,974&nbsp;grt), ''Kalpaks'' (2,190&nbsp;grt) and ''Leningradsovet'' (1,270&nbsp;grt) sunk. In addition, the ships ''Ivan Papanin'', ''Saule'', ''Kazakhstan'' and the ''Serp i Molot'' were damaged. Some 5,000 Soviet soldiers were lost.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=60}}

Another key use of the Ju 88 was against the [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic convoy]]s bringing supplies to the Soviets via the ports of [[Murmansk]] and [[Archangel]].<ref name = "smithkay 406"/> Effective attacks against these convoys did not commence until late March 1942; convoys after this point would often lose ships to air-launched torpedoes. Convoy [[PQ 17]] reportedly lost 23 out of 34 ships, which was partially attributed to attacks by Ju 88s.<ref name = "smithkay 4067">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=406-407}}.</ref> Later convoys with heavier escorts, which sometimes included [[aircraft carriers]], proved to be far more costly to attack.<ref name = "smithkay 4078">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=407-408}}.</ref>

===The Mediterranean===
During 1940, the first Ju 88s arrived in [[Sicily]]. Further units equipped with the type would be transferred to the theatre during 1941 and 1942.<ref name = "smithkay 408">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=408}}.</ref> In December 1941, it was decided to launch an aerial campaign against the Allied-held island of [[Malta]]. During the [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege of Malta]], Ju 88s sought out and attacked Allied shipping across the Mediterranean and also undertook  bombing missions against the island itself.<ref name = "smithkay 408"/> The port area was specifically targeted, as well as any supply ships spotted, in an attempt to deprive the population of key resources; the island's airfields were also attacked, successfully destroying numerous [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s on the ground during one such attack in May 1942. Ju 88s were often escorted by [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] heavy fighters to deter the Allied interception efforts.<ref name = "smithkay 4089">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=408-409}}.</ref>

By March 1943, Ju 88 operations in the Mediterranean had become largely confined to night time bombing missions against ground targets.<ref name = "smithkay 415"/> In response to Allied attacks upon the [[Sardinia]]n airfields around this time, German aircraft were withdrawn to Sicily and the Italian mainland. By the time of the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] in July 1943, only a single unit equipped with Ju 88s was still stationed on the island.<ref name = "smithkay 415">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=415}}.</ref>

===North Africa===
Ju 88s were used in the [[North African campaign]], where they flew operations in support of the Axis forces in North Africa.

===Italian Campaign===
Prior to the Allied landings at [[Reggio Calabria|Reggio]] and [[Salerno]] in early September 1943, there were a total of five Ju 88 units stationed in Italy.<ref name = "smithkay 415"/> Missions were flown against the arriving troops, helping to bring about a temporary stalemate. A large-scale operation occurred on 2 December 1943 when 105 Ju 88 A-4s, armed with bombs and [[motobomba]] circling torpedoes, [[Air raid on Bari|attacked the Allied-held port of Bari, Italy]]. The attacking force achieved complete surprise and sunk over 20 Allied ships in the overcrowded harbour, including the U.S. [[Liberty ship]] ''[[SS John Harvey|John Harvey]]'', which was carrying [[mustard gas]]. About 1,000 people were killed and another 1,000 wounded; many fatalities and injuries were as a result of the release of mustard gas. The attacking force lost one aircraft; the Allies had not assigned any fighters to guard Bari as they thought the Luftwaffe incapable of striking in this strength at this stage of the war. The port was completely closed for three weeks from the damage of the raid, and only resumed full operation in February 1944.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=943&dat=19880520&id=-61PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eVMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3824,2173744 |title=Tucson Senior Helps Retired Doctor Receive Military Honor |work=Mohave Daily Miner |date=20 May 1988 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref>

In December 1943, many of the Luftwaffe's remaining Ju 88-equipped units in Italy were transferred away to other fronts.<ref name = "smithkay 415"/>

===Finnish Air Force===
[[File:Junkers Ju 88A-4.jpg|thumb|[[Finnish Air Force]] Junkers Ju 88 A-4. The FAF aircraft code for Ju 88 was JK.]]
In April 1943, as Finland was fighting its [[Continuation War]] against the USSR, the Finnish Air Force bought 24 Ju 88s from Germany.<ref name="Stenmann p35">{{harvnb|Stenman|1995|p=35}}.</ref> The aircraft were used to equip [[No. 44 Squadron, Finnish Air Force|No. 44 Sqn]], which had previously operated [[Bristol Blenheim]]s, but these were instead transferred to [[No. 42 Squadron, Finnish Air Force|No. 42 Sqn]]. Due to the complexity of the Ju 88, the FAF spent most of 1943 training crews on the aircraft, and conducted only a handful of bombing missions. The most notable was a raid on the Lehto partisan village on 20 August 1943 (in which the whole squadron participated), and a raid on the [[Lavansaari]] air field (leaving seven Ju 88 damaged from forced landing in inclement weather).<ref name="Stenmann p37">{{harvnb|Stenman|1995|p=37}}.</ref> In the summer of 1943, the Finns noted stress damage on the wings. This had occurred when the aircraft were used in dive bombing. Restrictions followed: the dive brakes were removed and it was only allowed to dive at a 45-degree angle (compared to 60–80 degrees previously). In this way, they tried to spare the aircraft from unnecessary wear.

[[File:Ju88 cockpit hood.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 cockpit hood preserved at the [[Finnish Aviation Museum]] in [[Vantaa]]]]
One of the more remarkable missions was a bombing raid on 9 March 1944 against Soviet [[Soviet Long Range Aviation|Long Range Aviation]] bases near [[Leningrad]], when the Finnish aircraft, including Ju 88s, followed Soviet bombers returning from a night raid on [[Tallinn]], catching the Soviets unprepared and destroying many Soviet bombers and their fuel reserves, and a raid against the [[aerosledge]] base at Petsnajoki on 22 March 1944.<ref name="Stenmann p37">{{harvnb|Stenman|1995|p=37}}.</ref> The whole bomber regiment took part in the defence against the Soviets during the [[fourth strategic offensive]]. All aircraft flew several missions per day, at both day and night, when the weather permitted.<ref name="Stenmann p37-8">{{harvnb|Stenman|1995|pp=37–38}}.</ref>

No. 44 Sqn was subordinated ''Lentoryhmä Sarko'' during the [[Lapland War]] (now against Germany), and the Ju 88s were used both for reconnaissance and bombing. The targets were mostly vehicle columns. Reconnaissance flights were also made over northern Norway. The last war mission was flown on 4 April 1945.<ref name="Stenmann p39">{{harvnb|Stenman|1995|p=39}}.</ref><ref name = "smithkay 414">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=414}}.</ref>

After the wars, [[Finland]] was prohibited from using bomber aircraft with internal bomb stores. Consequently, the Finnish Ju 88s were used for training until 1948. The aircraft were then scrapped over the following years.<ref name="Stenmann p39"/> No Finnish Ju 88s have survived, but an engine is on display at the [[Central Finland Aviation Museum]], and the frame structure of a German Ju 88 cockpit hood is preserved at the [[Finnish Aviation Museum]] in [[Vantaa]].

==Variants==

===Ju 88A===
Main bomber type with [[Junkers Jumo 211|Jumo 211]] engines.
;Ju 88 A-0
:Pre-production aircraft.
;Ju 88 A-1
:Initial production variant. {{cvt|895|kW}} Jumo 211B-1 engines
;Ju 88 A-2
:Jumo 211 G-1 engines.
;Ju 88 A-3
:Conversion [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]]. Dual controls and throttles, various instruments duplicated.
[[File:Stanowiska karabinów maszynowych niemieckiego samolotu bojowego (2-13038).jpg|thumb|right|The rear-facing defensive armament of the Ju 88 A-4.]]
;Ju 88 A-4
:Improved variant. Longer wingspan, due to redesigned wingtips. Stronger defensive armament. Power provided by Jumo 211 J-1 or J-2 engines producing {{cvt|1410|hp|kW|order=flip}}, driving wooden bladed propellers. Reinforced undercarriage. Provision for four external bomb racks.
;Ju 88 A-5. 
:This version actually predates the A-4. Earlier models of Ju 88 upgraded with longer wings and other equipment. Jumo 211B-1, G-1 or H-1 engines all rated at {{cvt|1200|hp|kW|order=flip}} for take-off.
;Ju 88 A-6
:Was equipped with a balloon cable fender. A counterweight was mounted in the rear fuselage. Extremely vulnerable to fighter interception, most reverted to the normal A-5 version, fender and counterweight removed.
;Ju 88 A-7
:Dual control trainer based on the A-5
;Ju 88 A-8
:This version had balloon cable cutting capabilities, crew reduced to three, Jumo 211F-1 engines
;Ju 88 A-11
:Factory built tropical version
;Ju 88 A-12
:Dual control trainer. Ventral gondola, dive brakes and all armament removed.
;Ju 88 A-13
:Low level assault version. Dive brakes and bomb sight removed. Additional armor for crew, engines and fuel tanks. Armament consisted of bombs and up to 16 MG 17 machine guns housed in gun pods.
;Ju 88 A-14
:An improved A-4 version, more armor for the crew, Kuto-Nase balloon cable cutters, bomb sight removed.
;Ju 88 A-15
:Based on the A-4, it featured an enlarged wooden bomb bay, capable of holding 3 tons of bombs. Ventral gondola removed, only two defensive MGs. It was rejected as the bomb bay "bulge" caused too much drag and a thus a reduction in speed.{{sfn|Dressel|Griehl|1994|p=78}}
;Ju 88 A-16 
:Dual control trainer based on the A-14
;Ju 88 A-17
:Dedicated torpedo bomber, no ventral gondola. One PVC torpedo rack under each wing replaced the two bomb racks. A long housing on the starboard side of the nose contained the torpedo aiming mechanisms. Crew of three.

===Ju 88B===
Prototype with all-new fully glazed "stepless" crew compartment nose, developed into [[Junkers Ju 188]].
;Ju 88 B-0
:10 pre-production aircraft with "stepless" fully glazed nose.

===Ju 88C===
''[[Zerstörer]]'', fighter-bomber and night fighter, based on A-series, but with sheet metal nose.
;Ju 88 C-1
:Heavy fighter, 20 converted from A-1, Jumo 211 engines
;Ju 88 C-2
:Heavy fighter, 20 converted from A-5
;Ju 88 C-3
:Heavy fighter with BMW 801A engines, one built{{Sfn|Goss|Streetly|2023|p=13}}
;Ju 88 C-4
:Heavy fighter, reconnaissance variant, based on A-5. 60 built and 60 converted from A-5
;Ju 88 C-5
:Heavy fighter, like C-4 but with BMW 801 engines, up to four converted
;Ju 88 C-6
:Heavy fighter and Night fighter, based on A-4, Jumo 211J engines with {{cvt|1420|PS|kW hp|0|order=out}}, 900 built

===Ju 88D===
[[File:JU-88D Trop USAFM.jpg|thumb|Ju 88D (tropicalized) at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]]]]
Long-range photo-reconnaissance variants, based on the Ju 88 A-4/A-5.
;Ju 88 D-1
:Long-range photo-reconnaissance variant based on Ju 88 A-4.
;Ju 88 D-2
:Long-range photo-reconnaissance variant based on Ju 88 A-5.
;Ju 88 D-3
:Tropicalized D-1.
;Ju 88 D-4
:Tropicalized D-2.
;Ju 88 D-5
:as D-1 but with VDM metal propellers instead of Junkers wooden propellers

===Ju 88G===
Night fighter, new fuselage with A-series' ventral ''Bola'' (Bodenlafette) gondola omitted, tail section from Ju 188, aerodynamically improved conformal gun pod for a quartet of forward-firing {{cvt|20|mm|3}} calibre, MG 151/20 autocannons below the former bomb bay.
;Ju 88 G-1
:BMW 801 radial engines with {{cvt|1700|PS|kW hp|0|order=out}}, FuG 220 ''Lichtenstein SN-2'' radar
;Ju 88 G-6
:Junkers Jumo 213A inverted V12 engines with {{cvt|1750|PS|kW hp|0|order=out}}, used either FuG 220 ''Lichtenstein SN-2'' 90 MHz or FuG 218 ''Neptun'' 158/187 MHz frequency radar, either with the usual ''Hirschgeweih'' eight-dipole aerial setup or experimentally with the more aerodynamic ''Morgernstern'' tripled crossed-dipole aerials. Some very-late-war aircraft equipped with experimental FuG 240 ''Berlin'' [[cavity magnetron]] based 3 GHz radar, with dish antenna in bulbous solid nose. Optional with ''Schräge Musik'' upward firing guns with two {{cvt|20|or|30|mm|3}} guns.
;Ju 88 G-7
:Identical to G-6, but with Jumo 213E high-altitude engines, planned for use with FuG 218/220 with Morgenstern array or FuG 240. The G-7 was also to be installed with wings from the [[Junkers Ju 188]].{{sfn|MacKay|2001|p=189}}
; Ju 88G-3, 4 and 8 not produced.{{sfn|MacKay|2001|p=188}}

===Ju 88H===
Long-range photo-reconnaissance, fighter variants, based on the stretched Ju 88G-series fuselage.<ref name = "smithkay 4112">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=411-412}}.</ref>
;Ju 88 H-1
:Long-range maritime reconnaissance variant, equipped with a FuG 200 Hohentwiel radar and a trio of remotely controlled cameras in the aft fuselage.
;Ju 88 H-2
:Fighter variant intended to attack Allied long range convoy escort aircraft armed with six Forward firing MG 151/20.
;Ju 88 H-3
:Ultra-long-range maritime reconnaissance variant similar to H-1.
;Ju 88 H-4
:Destroyer variant.

===Ju 88P===
Anti-tank and bomber destroyer variant with single ''Bordkanone'' series {{cvt|75|mm|3}}, {{cvt|50|mm|3}}, or twin {{cvt|37|mm|3}} calibre cannon in conformal ventral fuselage [[gun pod]] mount, which mandated removal of the ''Bola'' gondola under the cockpit section, conversion of A-series bomber. Produced in small series only, they were perceived as a failure for both anti-tank<ref>Polmar, Norman and Dana Bell. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YlHDyi87AQYC&dq=%22Ju+88P%22&pg=PA118 ''One Hundred Years of World Military Aircraft.''] Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute, 2003. {{ISBN|978-1-59114-686-5}}.</ref><ref name = "smithkay 40910">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=409-410}}.</ref> and anti-bomber use.
;Ju 88 P-1
:Heavy-gun variant fitted with single {{cvt|75|mm|3}} ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 7,5]] cannon in ventral gun pod. Appeared in mid-1942 in small numbers.<ref name="Staerck">Staerck, Chris and Paul Sinnott. [https://books.google.com/books?id=JOZZBKFebacC&dq=%22Ju+88P%22&pg=PA128 ''Luftwaffe: The Allied Intelligence Files.''] Washington, DC: Potomoc Books, 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-57488-387-9}}.</ref><ref name="Rickard">Rickard, J. [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_ju88P.html "Junker Ju 88P."] ''historyofwar.org,'' 30 June 2007. Retrieved: 19 January 2011.</ref>
;Ju 88 P-2
:Heavy-gun variant with twin {{cvt|37|mm|3}} ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 37]] cannon in ventral gun pod.
;Ju 88 P-3
:Heavy-gun variant with twin {{cvt|37|mm|3}} ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 37]] cannon in ventral gun pod, and additional armor.<ref name="Rickard" />
;Ju 88 P-4
:Heavy-gun variant with single {{cvt|50|mm|3}} ''Bordkanone'' [[BK 5 cannon]] in ventral gun pod. There were 32 built.<ref name="Staerck" />
;Ju 88 P-5
:Proposed heavy-gun variant with single {{cvt|88|mm|3}}, none known to have ever been built.

===Ju 88R===
C-series night fighters with BMW 801 engines.

===Ju 88S===
High-speed bomber series based on Ju 88 A-4 but with ventral ''Bola'' gondola omitted, smoothly glazed nose with radial-ribbed supports instead of the "beetle's eye" of the A-version, and [[GM-1]] nitrous-oxide boost, fastest of all variants.<ref name = "smithkay 4123">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|pp=412–413}}.</ref>
;Ju 88 S-0
:Fitted with two BMW 801 G-2 engines, single {{cvt|13|mm|3}} dorsal gun and 14 SD65 {{cvt|65|kg}} bombs.
;Ju 88 S-1
:Fitted with two BMW 801 G-2 engines, the GM-1 boost system and could carry two SD1000 {{cvt|1000|kg}} bombs externally.
;Ju 88 S-2
:Fitted with two turbocharged BMW 801J engines, wooden bomb bay extension as used on the Ju 88 A-15.
;Ju 88 S-3
:Fitted with two {{cvt|1671|kW}} Jumo 213A engines and GM-1 boost system.

===Ju 88T===
Three-seat photo-reconnaissance version of S-series.<ref name = "smithkay 413">{{harvnb|Smith|Kay|1972|p=413}}.</ref>
;Ju 88 T-1
:Based on the Ju 88 S-1 but with bomb bays fitted for extra fuel or GM-1 tanks.
;Ju 88 T-3
:Based on the Ju 88 S-3.

==Operators==
[[File:Ju88 englisch.jpg|thumb|A captured Junkers Ju 88A-5, RAF serial HM509, of No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight based at Collyweston, Northamptonshire, in flight]]
[[File:RAB mit Flugzeugen.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 heavy fighters parked beside a [[Reichsautobahn]] used as a [[highway strip]], early 1945]]
;{{FIN}}
* [[Finnish Air Force]] received 24 Ju 88 A-4 aircraft.
**[[No. 44 Squadron, Finnish Air Force|No. 44 Squadron]]
;{{FRA}}
* [[French Air Force]] operated aircraft captured in Toulouse repair depot and other captured by the RAF and USAAF handed over to the French.
* [[French Navy]] (Postwar)
;{{flag|Germany|Nazi}}
* Luftwaffe
;{{flag|Hungary|1920}}
* [[Royal Hungarian Air Force]]
;{{flag|Italy|1861}}
*''[[Regia Aeronautica]]''
;{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Romania}}
*[[Royal Romanian Air Force]]
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
**[[No. 1426 Flight RAF]] operated at least five captured aircraft.
;{{USSR}}
* [[Soviet Air Force]] bought three Ju 88A-1 for evaluation in 1940<ref>Cieślak, Krzysztof (2017) (in Polish): ''Na drodze do Pe-2''. „Technika Wojskowa Historia”. Special issue 6(36)/2017, pp. 44-45.</ref> and operated captured aircraft.
;{{flag|Spanish State|1938}}
* [[Spanish Air Force]] bought ten aircraft and put into service another 15 interned during the war.

==Surviving aircraft==
Only two complete aircraft exist. They were both flown into British hands by defecting crews during the war.

[[File:Ju-88 D-1 Trop 2.jpg|thumb|Junkers Ju 88 D-1/Trop, ''Baksheesh'', USAF Museum (2007)]]
;Ju 88 D-1/Trop, Werk Nr. ''430650''
:This is a long-range, photographic reconnaissance aircraft that was in the service of the [[Forţele Aeriene Regale ale României|Royal Romanian Air Force]]. On 22 July 1943, it was flown from [[Mariupol]], Ukraine, to [[Cyprus]] by a Romanian pilot who wanted to defect to the Allied side. His original intention had been to fly to Syria, but strong winds blew him off-course.<ref name="Newdick" /> Four RAF Hawker Hurricanes intercepted the aircraft and escorted it to a landing at [[Limassol]].<ref name="Newdick" />

:Given the name ''[[Baksheesh]]'', it was allocated the RAF serial number ''HK959'' and test–flown in Egypt. However, by this point in the war, the RAF had already acquired three Ju 88s in flying condition{{#tag:ref|''EE205'', captured in July 1941. Werk Nr. ''6073'' (''HM509''), captured in November 1941 and Werk Nr. ''360043'' (''PJ876''), surrendered in May 1943 {{cn|date=January 2024}}|group=N}} and ''Baksheesh'' was handed over to the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. The aircraft was fitted with additional external fuel tanks, then flown across Africa to Nigeria, across the South Atlantic to Brazil, via [[Ascension Island]]. Then finally across the Caribbean to Florida.<ref name="Newdick">{{cite web|last=Newdick|first=Thomas|date=2020-11-12|title=The Amazing Story Of How This Nazi Recon Plane Ended Up Being Tested In The U.S. During WWII|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37574/how-this-nazi-recon-plane-ended-up-being-tested-in-the-united-states-during-world-war-ii|access-date=2023-01-05|website=The Drive}}</ref>

:In the US, it was registered as ''FE-1598'' and used for examination and test flying from 1943 to 1944 at [[Wright Field]].<ref name="Newdick" /> In 1946, the aircraft was placed in storage at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] in [[Arizona]]. It was shipped to the US Air Force Museum on 6 January 1960. It was previously painted in spurious Luftwaffe markings, appropriately of a German WW II ''Aufklärungsgruppe'' (reconnaissance group) while on unrestored, outdoor display; however it is presently finished in its original-style Romanian military insignia and is on protected indoor display in the World War II Gallery at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref>''United States Air Force Museum Guidebook'' 1975, p. 27.</ref>
[[File:Junkers Ju 88 RAF Hendon.jpg|thumb|Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. ''360043'', RAF Museum (2007)]]
;Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. ''360043''
:This aircraft is thought to have been built in mid–1942 as a model A bomber, before being converted to a model R–1 fighter in early 1943. It was flown to Scotland by its defecting crew in May 1943; two of the three crew on board (who may have been British agents)<ref name="RAF museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/78-AF-953-Junkers-Ju88-R1.pdf|title=Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. ''360043''|work=RAF Museum|access-date=2014-01-30}}</ref> had taken the decision to defect after being ordered to shoot down a civilian [[BOAC]] [[de Havilland Mosquito|Mosquito]] courier flight from Sweden to the UK.<ref name="Jones p417-19">{{harvnb|Jones|1979|pp=417–418}}.</ref>

:The aircraft took off from [[Aalborg]], Denmark on 9 May, landing at [[Kristiansand]], Norway for refuelling, it then took off again, supposedly for a mission over the [[Skagerrak]]. The defecting crew instead flew west to Scotland while holding the third crewmember at gunpoint. The aircraft was detected by British radar as it approached the Scottish coast and two Spitfires from [[No. 165 Squadron RAF|165 Squadron]] were scrambled. They intercepted ''360043'' one mile inland, whereupon the Ju 88 lowered its undercarriage, dipped its wings and dropped flares, signalling the crew's intent to surrender. The Spitfires escorted ''360043'' to [[RAF Dyce]], where it received slight damage from the airfield's anti-aircraft guns while attempting to land. The Spitfire pilots (an American and a Canadian) were [[mentioned in dispatches]] for taking the risk not to open fire on the Ju 88 upon interception.
:The surrender of this aircraft was of great intelligence value at the time, as it was fitted with the latest [[UHF]]-band [[Lichtenstein radar|FuG 202 Liechtenstein BC A.I radar]], for which a new form of the [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|Window]] radar interference method, set up for UHF-band airborne radar jamming, was developed soon afterwards. The Ju 88R-1 was operated by the RAF's [[No. 1426 Flight RAF|No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight]] and evaluated in depth by various British groups, including the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] and the [[Fighter Interception Unit]]. It was used to assist in teaching enemy aircraft recognition skills prior to the D-Day landings, and was last flown in May 1945. In September 1954 and again in September 1955, it was displayed on [[Horseguards Parade]] for Battle of Britain week. The aircraft was restored in 1975 and fitted with a replica of its characteristic ''Matratze'' 32-dipole radar antenna array, as all its radar equipment had been removed during the war. In August 1978, it was moved to the [[Royal Air Force Museum Midlands]], its present home.<ref name="RAF museum"/>

Several reasonably intact aircraft have been recovered from underwater and remote land crash sites in recent years; some of these aircraft are under restoration for static display. Notable examples include:

[[File:U4-TK Junkers Ju.88A-1 Luftwaffe (9547432044).jpg|thumb|Werk Nr. ''0880119'' undergoing restoration at Gardermoen, Norway, August 2013]]
;Ju 88 A-1, Werk Nr. ''0880119'', with ''Geschwaderkennung'' of '''U4+TK'''
:This aircraft is the subject of a long-term restoration project at the [[Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection]] at [[Gardermoen]], near Oslo, Norway. It first flew in January 1940 and served with 2.''Staffel''/[[Kampfgeschwader 30]], under the call sign U4+TK (with the two-character ''Geschwaderkennung'' designation of '''U4''' not recorded as ever having been used by KG 30 - that wing usually used the '''4D''' wing code) during [[Operation Weserübung]], the German invasion of Norway. In April 1940, it was operating from the frozen surface of the [[Jonsvatnet]], a lake near [[Trondheim]] in Norway. The lake was [[Trondheim Airport, Jonsvatnet|being used as an improvised airfield by the Germans]], who were conducting operations against Allied naval ships and against the towns of [[Namsos (town)|Namsos]] and [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]].<ref name="jonsvatnet" >{{cite web|url=http://www.ju88.net/jonsvatnet.html|title=The use of Jonsvatnet as a temporary Airfield during April 1940|website=Ju88.net|access-date=2012-09-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710091833/http://www.ju88.net/index.html|archive-date=2016-07-10}}</ref> Towards the end of April, warmer weather made the frozen lake surface unusable for flying operations and a number of aircraft were abandoned on the ice, sinking into the lake when it melted completely.<ref name="jonsvatnet" /> The Ju 88 was recovered in late 2003, in an operation that also saw the recovery of a [[Heinkel He 111|Heinkel He 111 H-2]] '''6N+NH''' (Wk Nr 2320) and the tail section of a second Ju 88.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ju88.net/ju88.html|title=The recovery of U4+TK|website=ju88.net|access-date=2012-09-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005162842/http://www.ju88.net/ju88.html|archive-date=2007-10-05}}</ref>

;Ju 88 A-4, Werk Nr. ''0881478'' 4D+AM (ex-''Stammkennzeichen'' of BH+QQ)
:This aircraft, formerly of 4.''Staffel''/Kampfgeschwader 30 is displayed at the [[Norwegian Aviation Museum]] at [[Bodø Airport]]. On 13 April 1942, it was returning from an attack on Soviet ships when it ran out of fuel. The crew bailed out in the vicinity of Snefjord but the aircraft continued its flight and, remarkably, was left comparatively intact after crash-landing on a hillside at Garddevarre in [[Finnmark]] in the far north of Norway. It remained there until recovered by the ''Norsk Luftfartsmuseum'' in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/garddevarre.html|title=Junkers Ju 88 A-4 Garddevarre Finnmark|last1=Sørensen|first1=Kjell|access-date=2012-09-11|website=flyvrak – World War II Aircraft wreck sites in Norway & other countries|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901031720/http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/garddevarre.html|archive-date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

;Ju 88 A-5, Werk Nr. ''0886146'' with ''Stammkennzeichen'' of CV+VP
:This aircraft is held at the ''[[Deutsches Technikmuseum]]'' near Berlin.<ref name="RAF museum" /> It was delivered to the Luftwaffe in June 1940 and assigned to the bomber unit [[Kampfgeschwader 54]], who flew it in the Battle of Britain and during the German invasion of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ju88.net/0886146.html|title=The Plane|website=ju88.net|access-date=2012-09-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065131/http://www.ju88.net/0886146.html|archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>

:In June 1942, it was serving with a training unit, ''Kampffliegerschule'' 3 based on the German Baltic coast.<ref name="thecrash" /> On the night of 29 June, it was stolen by two German personnel who intended to fly to Britain and defect to the Allied side. The attempt failed and the aircraft came down in [[Kilsfjord, Telemark|Kilsfjord]], a fjord near [[Kragerø]], Norway.<ref name="hinton">{{cite web|last1=Hinton|first1=Douglas|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/journey.html|title=Restoration: Desperate Journey, A Junkers Ju 88 is pulled from a Norwegian lake|website=Air and Space magazine|date=March 2001|access-date=2012-09-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703212808/http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/journey.html|archive-date=2012-07-03}}</ref> One man drowned but the other, Willi Voss, was rescued by Norwegian civilians. However, he was subsequently captured, returned to Germany and executed in January 1943, even though some accounts claim Voss was forced by the other man to fly at gunpoint.<ref name="thecrash" >{{cite web|url=http://www.ju88.net/thecrash.html|title=Prelude to disaster|website=ju88.net|access-date=2012-09-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307192023/http://ju88.net/thecrash.html|archive-date=2016-03-07}}</ref> The aircraft was recovered in August 2000.<ref name="hinton" /> Restoration work was carried out in Norway between 2000 and 2004; it was moved to Germany in August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ju88.net/restoration2.html|title=Restoration 2000–2004|website=ju88.net|access-date=2012-09-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055347/http://www.ju88.net/restoration2.html|archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>

==Specifications (Ju 88 A-4)==
[[File:Junkers Ju 88 A-4.svg|thumb|Junkers Ju 88 A-4]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''The warplanes of the Third Reich.''<ref name=Green>{{harvnb|Green|1972|pp=448–482}}.</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=4 (pilot, bombardier/front gunner, radio operator/rear gunner, navigator/ventral gunner)
|length m=14.4
|span m=20
|width m=
|height m=4.8
|wing area sqm=54.5
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=21737
|gross weight lb=26686
|max takeoff weight lb=30865
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Junkers Jumo 211J-1]] or 211J-2
|eng1 type=V-12 liquid-cooled inverted piston engine
|eng1 hp=1340
|eng1 note=for take-off
:::{{cvt|1350|hp|order=flip}} at {{cvt|820|ft|order=flip}}
:::{{cvt|1060|hp|order=flip}} at {{cvt|17000|ft|order=flip}}

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=VDM variable-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=470
|max speed note=at {{cvt|17390|ft|order=flip}} and {{cvt|27557|lb|order=flip}}
|cruise speed kmh=370
|cruise speed note=at {{cvt|17390|ft|order=flip}} economical cruising speed
|stall speed kmh=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|range km=1790
|range note= with {{cvt|2896|L|USgal impgal}}
|combat range km=
|ferry range km=2730
|ferry range note= with {{cvt|4028|L|USgal impgal}}
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=26900
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|time to altitude={{cvt|5400|m|ft}} in 23 minutes
|wing loading lb/sqft=45
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.100|hp/lb|kW/kg}}
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=<br>
**1 × [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.92 mm]] [[MG 81 machine gun|MG 81J]] machine gun on flexible mount in front windscreen, firing forward with 1,000 rounds.{{#tag:ref|This gun could be also fixed in place with a retractable forward barrel brace for strafing attacks.<ref name= "Griehl 2004, p. 51."/>|group=N}}
**1 × 7.92 mm MG 81J machine gun on flexible mount in lower fuselage nose glazing, firing forward with 1,000 rounds.
**2 × 7.92 mm MG 81J machine guns on flexible mount in the rear of the cockpit canopy, firing aft with 1,000 rounds each.<ref name= "Griehl 2004, p. 51.">{{harvnb|Griehl|2004|p=51}}</ref>
**1 × 7.92 mm MG 81Z twin machine gun on flexible mount in the rear ventral ''Bola'' position, firing aft with 1,000 rounds.<ref name= "Nowarra 1987, p. 87">{{harvnb|Nowarra|1987|p=87}}.</ref><ref name= "Griehl 2004, p. 51."/>
|bombs=Up to {{cvt|1400|kg}} of ordnance internally in two bomb bays rated at {{cvt|900|kg}} and {{cvt|500|kg}} or up to {{cvt|3000|kg}} externally. Carrying bombs externally increased weight and drag and impaired the aircraft's performance. Carrying the maximum load usually required [[rocket-assisted take-off]].
|rockets= 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
*[[Junkers Ju 188]]
*[[Junkers Ju 288]]
*[[Junkers Ju 388]]
|similar aircraft=
*[[Bristol Beaufighter]]
*[[de Havilland Mosquito]]
*[[Nakajima Ki-49]]
*[[Petlyakov Pe-2]]
*[[Saab 18]]
*[[Tupolev Tu-2]]
*[[Yokosuka P1Y]]
|lists=
*[[List of aircraft of World War II]]
*[[List of bomber aircraft]]
*[[List of military aircraft of Germany]]
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
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* {{cite book |last=Bergström |first=Christer |title=Barbarossa: The Air Battle, July–December 1941 |publisher=Chevron/Ian Allan |location=London, UK |language=en |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85780-270-2}}
* {{cite book |last = Cooksley |first = Peter G. |title = The Battle of Britain |location = London, UK |publisher = Ian Allan Ltd |date = 1990 |ISBN = 978-0-7110-1878-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=de Zeng |first1=H.L. |last2=Stanket |first2=D.G. |last3=Creek |first3=E.J. |title=Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945: A Reference Source, Volume 1 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=London, UK |language=en |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85780-279-5}}
* {{cite book |title=Die großen Luftschlachten des Zweiten Weltkriegs: Flugzeuge – Erfolge – Niederlagen |language=German |publisher=Neuer Kaiser Vlg GmbH |location=Gebunden, Germany |year=1994 |isbn=3-7043-6029-5}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Donald |editor-first=David |title=Warplanes of the Luftwaffe |publisher=Aerospace Publishing |location=London, UK |language=en |year=1994 |isbn=1-874023-56-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Dressel |first1=Joachim |last2=Griehl |first2=Manfred |title=Bombers of the Luftwaffe |publisher=Arms and Armour (DAG Publications) |location=London, UK |language=en |year=1994 |isbn=1-85409-140-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Feist |first=Uwe |title=Junkers Ju 88 in action |publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications |location=Carrollton, Texas |language=en |year=1974 |isbn=3-7909-0026-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Goss |first=Chris |title=Bloody Biscay |publisher=Crécy Publishing |location=Manchester, UK |language=en |year=2001 |isbn=0-947554-87-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Goss |first1=Chris |last2=Streetly |first2=Martin |title=Junked Ju 88 Day and Nightfighters Development-Equipment-Operations 1940-1945 |publisher=Crécy Publishing |language=en |date=2023 |isbn=978-1-80035-289-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Green |first=William |title=The Warplanes of the Third Reich |publisher=Doubleday & Co. |location=New York, US |language=en |year=1970 |isbn=1-874023-56-5}}
* {{cite book|last1=Green|first1=William|title=The warplanes of the Third Reich|date=1972|publisher=Doubleday|location=London|isbn=0385057822|edition=1st}}
* {{cite book |last=Griehl |first=Manfred |title=Das geheime Typenhandbuch der deutschen Luftwaffe |publisher=Podzun-Pallas Verlag |location=Wölfersheim-Berstadt, Germany |language=German |year=2004 |isbn=3-7909-0775-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Hooton |first=E.R. |title=Luftwaffe at War: Blitzkrieg in the West, Volume 2 |publisher=Chevron/Ian Allan |location=London, UK |language=en |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85780-272-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Jones |first=R.V. |title=Most Secret War |publisher=Coronet Books, Hodder and Stoughton |location=London, UK |language=en |year=1979 |isbn=0-340-24169-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Kay |first=Antony L. |title=Junkers Aircraft and Engines: 1913–1945 (Putnam Aviation) |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |location=Annapolis, Maryland |language=en |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-85177-985-0}}
* {{cite book |author1-last=Keskinen |author1-first=Kalevi |author2-last=Stenman |author2-first=Kari |title=Finnish Dornier Do 17 Z, Junkers Ju 88 A-4 |date=1999 |publisher=Hobby-kustannus |location=Helsinki, Finland |isbn=952-5334-01-5|name-list-style=amp |language=fi |series=Suomen ilmavoimien historia |volume=2}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Kulikov |first1=Victor |title=Des occasions en or pour Staline, ou les avions allemands en URSS |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=March 2000 |issue=84 |pages=16–23 |trans-title= Golden Opportunities for Stalin, or German Aircraft in the USSR |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Kulikov |first1=Victor |title=Des occasions en or pour Staline, ou les avions allemands en URSS |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=April 2000 |issue=85 |pages=44–49 |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
* {{cite book |last=MacKay |first=Ron |title=Junkers Ju 88 |publisher=Crowood Aviation |location=London, UK |language=en |year=2001 |isbn=978-1861264312}}
* {{cite book |last=Munson |first=Kenneth |title=Fighters and Bombers of World War II |publisher=Peerage Books |location=London, UK |language=en |year=1983 |isbn=0-907408-37-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Nowarra |first=Heinz J. |title=Die Ju 88 und ihre Folgemuster |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |location=Stuttgart, Germany |language=German |year=1987 |isbn=3-87943-579-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Scutts |first=Jerry |title=German Night Fighter Aces of World War II (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, Vol. 20) |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=London, UK |language=en |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-85532-696-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=J.R. |last2=Kay |first2=Antony L. |title=German Aircraft of the Second World War |publisher=Putnam |location=London, UK |year=1972 |language=en |isbn=0-85177-836-4}}
* {{cite journal |last=Stenman |first=Kari |title=Short But Gallant: The Career of the Finnish Junkers Ju 88s |journal=Air Enthusiast |issue=60 |date=November–December 1995 |publisher=Key Publishing |location=Stamford, UK |pages=35–39 |language=en |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book |last=Suchenwirth |first=Richard |title=The Development of the German Air Force, 1919–1939 |publisher=Ayer Publishing |location=North Stratford, New Hampshire, UK |language=en |year=1968}}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=John W.R. |chapter=Junkers Ju 88 |title=Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York, US |language=en |year=1969 |isbn=0-425-03633-2}}
* {{cite book |title=United States Air Force Museum Guidebook |publisher=Air Force Museum Foundation |location=Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio |language=en |year=1975}}
* {{cite book |last=Wagner |first=Ray |author2=Nowarra, Heinz |title=German Combat Planes: A Comprehensive Survey and History of the Development of German Military Aircraft from 1914 to 1945 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York, US |language=en |year=1971}}
* {{cite book |last=Weal |first=John |title=Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader on the Western Front |publisher=Osprey Aviation |location=Botley, Oxford, UK |language=en |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-84176-020-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Winchester |first=Jim |chapter=Junkers Ju 88 |title=Aircraft of World War II |publisher=Grange Books |location=London, UK |language=en |year=2004 |isbn=1-84013-639-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Junkers Ju 88}}
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%203422.html The Ingenious Ju 88, Flight magazine, 1940]
* [http://www.ju88.net www.Ju88.net]

{{Junkers aircraft}}
{{RLM aircraft designations}}
{{Spanish bombers}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1930s German bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:1940s German fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Junkers aircraft|Ju 088]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1936]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]