Junkers Ju 288

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The Junkers Ju 288 was a German bomber aircraft designed during World War II, but which only ever flew in prototype form. The first of 22 development aircraft flew on November 29 1940.

Contents

1 Development
2 Variants
3 Specifications (Ju 288B)
4 Related content

Development

The Ju 288 was created as a contender for Reichsluftfahrtministerium's Bomber B project, a programme aimed at replacing all of the medium bombers in the Luftwaffe's inventory, all of which were based on designs of the early 1930s. Bomber B was intended to have even better speed than the Ju 88, high altitude cruising with a pressurised cockpit, heavier defensive armament, range allowing it to cover any point in the British isles, and a massive 4,000 kg warload, double that of the earlier generation bombers.

The Junkers entry was an advanced scaled-up Junkers Ju 88, sharing its general layout and most of its fuselage and wings with extensions in various places. The nose was completely redesigned, however, and featured a pressurised cockpit. The fuselage was also "deepened" along its length to allow for a much larger bomb bay that would allow for an 8,000 lb (3630 kg) payload to be carried internally.

Power was to be supplied by two 24-cylinder Jumo 222 radial engines but problems with Jumo 222 development meant that the first prototypes flew with BMW 801 engines instead. When it became apparent that the Jumo 222 was not likely to become a viable powerplant in the current war situation, Daimler Benz DB 606s were used. This was the same engine layout used on the Heinkel He 177, and the Ju 288 now showed the same problems that the 177 exhibited.

As these technical difficulties were being dealt with, the lack of a decisive strategic bombing doctrine within the Luftwaffe meant that the mission and purpose of the Ju 288 remained nebulous throughout its development. In 1944 the project was finally abandoned as the Luftwaffe's priorities became more intensely focused on homeland defense.

Variants

Ju 288A - first seven prototypes with BMW engines
Ju 288B - seven prototypes with slightly enlarged airframes and better defensive armament
Ju 288C - final eight prototypes (of which only four were completed) with Daimler-Benz engines. This version was selected for serial production in 1944, but the programme was abandoned before that could take place.
Ju 288D - mock-up of a Ju-288C with improved tail armament
Ju 288G - design for an anti-ship version armed with a 355 mm recoilless cannon

Junkers Ju 288

Development

Variants

Specifications (Ju 288B)

Related content