133 JU 88 ACES OF WORLD WAR 2

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Initially designed as a fast medium bomber, the Junkers Ju 88 was also used as a Zerstorer heavy fighter by the Luftwaffe. It saw its combat debut over Poland in 1939, and heavy fighter variants saw action on every front up to VE Day. The ultimate Ju 88 fighter variant was the G-model of 1944, which boasted a FuG 220 or 227 radar, an astounding array of cannon and machine gun armament, and advanced Junkers Jumo or BMW engines.

A dedicated nightfighter, the first Ju 88G-1s entered service with the Nachtjagd in the summer of 1944, replacing Ju 88C/Rs as well as some Bf 110Gs. Despite suffering heavy losses in the final months of the war, Ju 88Gs also inflicted serious casualties on Bomber Command throughout the war.

JU-88s patrolled over the Bay of Biscay, opposed Allied convoys around the Arctic circle, and, most successfully, engaged RAF heavy bombers as radar-equipped nightfighters in defense of the Reich.