Junkers Ju 86
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The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed in the early 1930s by Junkers. The civilian model Ju 86B could carry ten passengers; two were delivered to Swissair and five to Lufthansa.
The bomber had defensive armament of 3x MG15 and could carry a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb load. The early model Ju 86-D1 (1936) had two 600 hp Jumo 205C-4 diesel engines, but the Ju 86E replaced those with the 800 hp BMW 132F.
Some were sold to Sweden, South Africa, Chile, Portugal, Manchukuo (Japan) and Hungary. The Ju 86K was an export model, also built under license in Sweden with 905 hp Bristol Mercury XIX engines, and stayed in service with the Swedish Air Force until 1956.
The bomber was field tested in the Spanish Civil War, where it proved inferior to the Heinkel He 111. It was again used in the 1939 invasion of Poland, but retired soon after.
In January 1940 the Luftwaffe tested the prototype Ju 86P that had a longer wing span, pressurized cabin, Jumo 207A1 turbocharged diesel engines with, and a two-man crew. The Ju 86P could fly at heights of 12,000 m (39,000 ft), where it was safe from enemy fighters.
Satisfied with the newer version, the Luftwaffe ordered that some 40 older-model bombers be converted to Ju 86P-1 high altitude bombers and Ju 86P-2 photo reconnaissance aircraft. Those operated successfully for some years over Britain, the Soviet Union and North Africa. In August 1942 a modified Spitfire V shot one down over Egypt; when two more were lost, Ju 86Ps were withdrawn from service in 1943.
The Luftwaffe developed the Ju 86R with even larger wings and newer engines that could have flown higher yet — up to 16,000 m (52,500 ft) — but production was limited to prototypes.
Military Operators
Specifications (Ju 86R)
References
- Aeroplane Monthly June 2005, pg 68
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