Junkers Ju88

[the lancaster kicks ass]

you change direction like the french when they see an enemy.............

 

[Gemhorse]

Stukas were big in the gunsights of Allied aircraft, where they belonged. Always reminded me of a Vulture, crappin' and spitting lead on a road crammed with refugees, no glory in that...The Ju88 was a much more refined aircraft by comparison - BUT, I'm here to defend the Mosquito...and when Israel acquired it's 300, of various marks from Britain, France and various other sources in 1948, many were already in poor condition. They acquired more in the '50's, mostly FB6's and used them in a couple of squadrons with a nil loss rate and near 100% serviceability! One should realise that when they built them, they weren't designed to last that long, and considering they've still got 30 odd worldwide with potentially new fuselages to come on stream, using today's epoxy glues and whatnot, they're gonna be around for awhile yet. No one was really inspired back in '45 to keep Ju88's particuarly [let alone stukas] and they are fishing the occasional '88 out of fiords now, but will they ever fly again? - Mossies were very popular after the War because of their Rep: they didn't get that because they were mediochre...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

you gotta admit the mossie was the better plane..............

 

[Gemhorse]

Absolutely !! -I feel aircraft restoration is a noble and talented art, and in that context I'm pleased to see any aircraft from the past restored - vehicles too...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i'm more interested in the planes than the vehicles, unless it's a T-34, they were cool 8)

 

[plan_D]

T-34 was a good tank. I'm interested in all aspects of World War 2, aircraft, armour, weapons, technology, politics...everything basically.

 

[kiwimac]

The JU88 served in a number of airforces post-ww2 including the French.

The whole concept of a dive-bomber was obsolete by the end of WW2 that the Stuka continued to find roles it culd excel in, even when very outclassed, is an indicator that it was a very good airplane.

Kiwimac

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

altough it will always be remebered as a dive bomber, easily the best (and only truely successful) one of the war............

 

[kiwimac]

The japanese Val was also quite successful early on in WW2 but, yes, you are right the Stuka was the best of the bunch.

Kiwimac

 

[plan_D]

No it wasn't, the Stuka was merely used so extensively it looks good. It was quickly sent away from the Western Front because it was, well, poor.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but what in the way of dive bombers can you compare it to?

 

[Gemhorse]

I thought the Dauntless did a good job, and the Helldiver...

 

[Gemhorse]

Oh, and P.S; the Mustang was a useful dive-bomber, capable with strengthened wings of 2000lbs of bombs...

 

[plan_D]

There were plenty of aircraft that could do a better job than the Stuka, it was just used extensively. The A-36 Apache was much better than the Stuka, and you can call that a dive bomber safely because it had dive breaks...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

my vote still goes to the stuka................

 

[cheddar cheese]

i dunno much about dive bombers

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

that's 'cos there's not many to know about...................

 

[plan_D]

Well what do you want in the way of a dive bomber, a plane built for the role or one that could do it? If it was the latter I could say plenty that were better than the Stuka, if the former, I've still got a list.

 

[cheddar cheese]

a plane built for the role 8)

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

deafinatly, any plane can go into a shallow dive with a light bomb..........