From its pre-war inception and difficult gestation as a high-speed bomber to its adaptation as a night fighter, torpedo bomber and reconnaissance platform, the Junkers Ju 88 was one of the most versatile and widely used aircraft of World War II. Junkers Ju 88 -Combat on all Fronts is a new combat history of this iconic Luftwaffe aircraft, based almost entirely around newly translated first-hand accounts from pilots, navigators, gunners and ground crews.
Drawing on archive material, diaries and memoirs, period and 'propaganda' reports, this book delves into the Ju 88's convoluted development, operational roles, and the technical innovations that made it a cornerstone of German air power almost from first to last. The narrative spans the aircraft's deployment in key theatres, from the Battle of Britain and the frozen landscapes of the Eastern Front to anti-shipping sorties in Mediterranean skies and the desperate nocturnal dogfights in the Defense of the Reich.
First-person accounts bring these battles vividly to life, recounting moments of triumph, terror, and survival. Pilots describe the challenges of precision bombing attacks, the intricacies of radar-guided night combat, and the challenges of adapting to rapidly evolving threats. Meanwhile, mechanics and ground crews shed light on the herculean efforts to keep the Ju 88 flying under punishing conditions.
Richly illustrated with rare photographs, Junkers Ju 88 Combat on all Fronts puts the reader in the cockpit. As with his two previous 'Luftwaffe Fighters' volumes published by Tempest, author Neil Page has uncovered yet more untold stories of World War II's aerial battles and brings them vividly to life. Experience the war in the air through the eyes of those who fought it--one mission, one flight, one harrowing moment at a time.
