18. The Underrated Ju 88
When people think of WWII German bombers, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Ju 87 Stuka. However, while the Stuka was a terrifying dealer of death early in the war, its reign was relatively brief. Its weaknesses were revealed during the Battle of Britain, when it became clear that against skilled and determined fighter opposition, Stukas were little more than flying coffins. The real workhorse of Germany’s bombers throughout most of the war was the Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber.
The twin-engine Ju 88 had originally been intended as a fast bomber that could outrun fighters. That proved futile, because between the time when the Ju 88 was designed and the time when it was deployed, fighter speeds had increased significantly. Nonetheless, the Ju 88 succeeded as a versatile airplane that performed multiple roles, including level bomber, dive bomber, torpedo bomber, mine layer, as well as reconnaissance, heavy fighter, and night fighter.
