Junkers Ju 87 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ju 87
Ju 87Ds in October 1943
Role	Dive bomber
Manufacturer	Junkers
Designer	Hermann Pohlmann
First flight	17 September 1935
Introduction	1936
Retired	1945 (Luftwaffe)
Primary users	Luftwaffe Regia Aeronautica Royal Romanian Air Force Bulgarian Air Force
Number built	Estimated 6,500

The Junkers Ju 87 or Ju 87 was a German light bomber of World War II. It was used like a dive bomber. Its crew was a pilot with a navigator behind him. He also handled the mobile machine gun. The Ju 87 could drop 500 kg of bombs. Some Ju-87 were modified for attack against tanks. It was built at more than 6 500 ex.

It's universally known as Stuka, an abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug, German for dive bomber.

History

The plane was designed by Hermann Pohlmann. It has first flight 17 September 1935. The first time it was used in battle was 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Junkers Ju 87 attacked Guernica.

In World War II, Ju-87 were used for bombing against Poland, and after against Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Greece. By the Battle of Britain Junkers Ju87 were used to attack Dover, Folkestone and other harbours of the English Channel. This aircraft was very famous for its siren whose whistling panicked people. Many Ju-87 were used in the Soviet Union against Soviet troops. In the Battle of Stalingrad, they were used to bomb the town.

Similar aircraft

• Aichi D3A
• Douglas SBD

Images for kids

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  Ernst Udet; the greatest proponent of the dive-bomber and the Ju 87 (1928 photo)

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  The Stuka had inverted gull wings, as shown in this photograph. Also visible are the two separate sliding "hoods" of the canopy.

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  The RAF Museum's Ju 87, partially disassembled in 2016. Showing the four attachment points for the outer wing section

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  Ju 87 diving procedure

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  Formation of Ju 87A dive-bombers, with the A's characteristic large wheel "trousers", each having one transverse bracing strut

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  Junkers Ju 87 B during the Battle of Stalingrad

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  A Ju-87 towing a DFS 230 over Italy

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  The powerplant; a Jumo 211D installed in a Ju 87 B – the "Jericho Trumpet" siren housing is faired over on the maingear leg

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  Ju 87Ds, Soviet Union, January/February 1943

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  Ju 87 G-1 "Kanonenvogel" with its twin Bordkanone 3.7 cm (1.46 in) underwing gun pods.

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  A Ju 87D during wing installation

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  Two Junkers Ju 87 Ds near completion

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  Condor Legion's Junkers Ju 87A with Spanish Nationalist markings.

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  Ju 87 Bs over Poland, September/October 1939

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  Erhard Milch addressing a Ju 87 staffel on a Norwegian airfield

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  A Ju 87 B of 5/StG 2 is examined by British troops after making an emergency landing in the North African desert, December 1941.

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  The Eastern Front brought new challenges. A Ju 87 B-2 is fitted with ski undercarriage to cope with the winter weather, 22 December 1941.

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  Ju 87B over Stalingrad.

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  Ju 87 Ds over the Eastern Front, 22 December 1943

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  Ju 87 wreck, Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum (2008)

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  Deutsches Technikmuseum, with a veteran gunner speaking of his combat in North Africa

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  The Ju 87 at the Hellenic Air Force Museum, Greece

See also

In Spanish: Junkers Ju 87 para niños