Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (Dive Bomber)

No other Aircraft in History was ever more feared, nor accomplished more, when conditions were right for it's use, than the Junkers Ju 87. Universally called the "Stuka" though this is actually just the abbreviation for Dive-Bomber in German. In the first 2 years of the War it struck terror in to the hearts of Seasoned Troops and Ship Crews and Helpless Civilians alike. But if it came up against good opposition like the Spitfire & Hurricane during the Battle of Britain it became almost a sitting duck, and although the aircraft remained in production until 1944, even increasing in output it seldom operated in it's intended role again. It's Cranked Wings & Screaming Siren were to make it an unmistakeable site & sound over Europe's skies. It really came in to it's own during the Spanish Civil War where it served with the Kondor Legion. Such was it's accuracy at Bombing that it had a tremendous effect on Republican Forces. By the start of WW2 the standard Stuka was the Ju 87B which was improved greatly from the earlier A model. In the 27 day Polish Campaign in September 1939 it literally shattered Polish resistance with it's unerring accuracy, virtually wiping out a whole Infantry Division at Poitrkow railway station. It's next important contribution came in Norway in April 1940 during Operation Weser sinking several Allied Warships. It then had an important role in the invasion of France & the Low Countries (Case Yellow) in May & June, Spearheading the dash to the Channel for the Panzer Divisions. Only when RAF Spitfires & Hurricanes showed up did it's weaknesses become apparent and it only played a small part in the Battle of Britain after many were lost attacking convoys in the Channel & Radar Stations along the South Coast. In late 1940 they were transferred to the Balkans & Greece campaigns and also served in the Desert from 1941. Now it was Russia's turn as the new Ju 87D model was used during Operation Barbarossa from June 1941. Not used much as a Dive Bomber in Russia it was more of a Ground Support Aircraft and carried a varied amount of Ordnance. It's final moment of Glory came in 1943 when the Ju 87G was introduced which had a 37mm Cannon mounted under each wing for Tank Busting at which it excelled. Hans Ulrich Rudel was the Top Scoring Tank Buster and he pioneered the technique. In September 1944 all production was stopped as Germany concentrated on building Fighters. It still soldiered on until the end because there was nothing to replace it.







Left to Right - Ju 87B, Stukas in formation, Ju 87G with Cannons fitted, Ju 87G in the RAF Museum at Hendon.

 

Have to agree with you when you mention that this plane was feared, i recall reading something about the invasion of Poland where these planes were used from the onset, bombing the infantry positions and taking out the runways and few planes the Poles had..

 

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German Newsreel (Propaganda) footage of Stukas attacking Russian Supply Lines in 1941.