Junkers Ju.87 B-1 Stuka

The Stuka's reputation far exceeded its performance. The terror it evoked in the early months of the Second World War with its shrieking dive (produced by specially-designed "whistles") was due to the fact that the Luftwaffe was virtually unopposed by any modern aircraft. When the Stuka was used against the British at the beginning of the Battle of Britain, it was swept from the sky. Its real usefulness, apart from the propaganda that could be wrung from it, can be measured by the fact that the Germans never developed another aircraft that could do exactly what the Stuka did. It was excellent in the role of close air support and remained in service throughout the war.

Specifications
Date: 1938
Description: Single-engine straight-wing
Mission: Tactical dive bomber
Manufacturer: Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke AG
Nation: Germany
Engine(s): One 1,200-hp Junkers Jumo 211 liquid-cooled 12-cylinder V
Versions: Ju.87 A-1 (1937) through Ju.87 G-1 (1942)
Speed: 238 mph (383 km/h)
Range/Endurance: 490 miles (788 km)
Ceiling: 26,250 ft. (8,000 m)
Armament: 3 machine guns; 1,100 lb. (500 kg) bomb payload
Crew: 2
Wingspan: 45 ft. 3 in. (13.79 m)
Length: 36 ft. 5 in. (11.1 m)
Weight: 9,560 lbs. (4,330 kg)

From the Arts & Letters WarBirds Database ©1995-2001
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