Junkers Ju 290

Last updated
Ju 290
Bundesarchiv Bild 141-2472, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 290 A-7.jpg
Captured Ju 290A-7 in flight with American FE markings
General information
Type Maritime patrol, Transport, Heavy bomber
Manufacturer Junkers
Designer
Primary users Luftwaffe
Spain (Post war)
Number built65 [2]
History
Manufactured1942–1946
Introduction dateAugust 1942
First flight16 July 1942 (Ju 290 V1)
Developed from Junkers Ju 90
Variants Junkers Ju 390

The Junkers Ju 290 was a large four-engine long-range transport and maritime patrol aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers.

Contents

Derived from the Ju 90 airliner, it was a dedicated military heavy transport developed on behalf of the Luftwaffe as a wartime replacement for Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor. In comparison to the standard Ju 90, it had a lengthened fuselage, more powerful engines, and a Trapoklappe - a hydraulically operated rear loading ramp. The Ju 290 initially flew unarmed; defensive machine guns were present on the majority of production aircraft following several early losses of aircraft. While originally designed for the heavy transport role, an urgent requirement for a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft led the Ju 290 being adapted to fulfil this mission as well. On 16 July 1942, the first prototype performed its maiden flight; the type was introduced to service shortly thereafter.

The Ju 290 was promptly deployed to bases in France for long-range reconnaissance missions in support of the ongoing Battle of the Atlantic; figures such as Admiral Dönitz demanded that the entire output of Ju 290s be made available to support Germany's U-boat campaign against Allied shipping. Shortly after the Normandy landings, the type was withdrawn from France and reassigned to transport duties. The Luftwaffe's special operations squadron, KG 200 also flew the Ju 290 for espionage purposes. In early 1945, Adolf Hitler had a specially modified Ju 290 assigned for his personal use, although he never flew aboard it. There was also some considerations to adapting the Ju 290 for the Amerika Bomber initiative, cumulating in abortive work on experimental aerial refuelling apparatus for the type as well as the B-1 high-altitude heavy bomber variant. Furthermore, it was envisioned that the Ju 290 could be used to fly the long distance route between Germany and Japan; it is contentious whether such flights actually ever occurred.

Design and development

Nose of a Junkers 290 with a Junkers Ju 90 behind. Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-561-1130-39A, Italien, Flugzeuge Ju 90 auf Flugplatz.jpg
Nose of a Junkers 290 with a Junkers Ju 90 behind.
Underside of the Ju 290 V1, the first prototype. Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1976-092-21, Flugzeug Junkers Ju 290 V 1.jpg
Underside of the Ju 290 V1, the first prototype.

The Junkers 290 was developed directly from the Ju 90 airliner, versions of which had been evaluated for military purposes, [3] [4] and was intended to replace the Luftwaffe's relatively slow Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, which by 1942 was proving to be increasingly vulnerable when confronted with Royal Air Force aircraft. [5] Furthermore, the airframe of the Fw 200 lacked sufficient strength for the role. [6] Multiple roles for the aircraft were envisioned beyond that of a large transport aircraft; perhaps the most ambitious was a bomber version (referred to as the A-8) that was, while planned, never actually built. [7] Work on the project originally begin under the designation Ju 90S. [8] Design work was headed by Konrad Eicholtz, [1] the detailed design and production of the mock-ups was assigned to the Letov aircraft factory in Prague in 1939. [9]

The development programme resulted in the Ju 290 V1 prototype BD+TX, which first flew on 16 July 1942. [10] Two similar aircraft, designated Ju 290A-0, were completed that same year. In comparison with the Ju 90, it featured a lengthened fuselage, more powerful engines, and a Trapoklappe - a hydraulically operated rear loading ramp. [11] A total of five Ju 290A-1s were produced in 1942, which was broadly similar to the Ju 290A-0 save for the addition of defensive armaments. This model was typically powered by four BMW 801L 14-cylinder radial engines, each capable of producing up to 1,200 kW (1,600 hp). [10] The need for heavy transports led to the Ju 290A-1 being pressed into service as quickly as possibly. [10]

An urgent need for Ju 290s in the long-range maritime reconnaissance role was also recognised by officials, this resulted in the development of the Ju 290A-2 during early 1943. [10] Three A-1 aircraft were converted to A-2 standard while still on the assembly line; the range of modifications necessary, which included the installation of strong defensive armament, slowed production considerably. The A-2 was fitted with FuG 200 Hohentwiel low-UHF band search radar and a dorsal turret fitted with a 20 mm MG 151 cannon. [12] The Hohentwiel radar was successfully used to locate Allied convoys at ranges of up to 80 km (50 mi) from an altitude of 500 m (1,600 ft) or 100 km (62 mi) from an altitude of 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It allowed the Ju 290 to track convoys while remaining out of range of anti-aircraft fire.[ citation needed ]

Early on, production of the Ju 290 was assigned to Junker's Bernburg facility. [9] Later on, production lines were established at Letov's plant in Prague to manufacture most versions of the aircraft, commencing with the Ju 290A-2.[ citation needed ]

The Ju 290A-3 followed shortly after the A-2, the primary difference of this variant was the fitting of a low-drag rear dorsal turret along with more powerful BMW 801D engines, capable of producing up to 1,300 kW (1,700 hp). [13] The A-3, along with the A-2, also featured large fuselage auxiliary fuel tanks. Both retained the rear loading ramp so that they could be used as transports if required.[ citation needed ]

The Ju 290A-4 was fitted with heavier defensive armament; specifically, a pair of hydraulically-powered HDL 151 dorsal turrets armed with 20 mm MG 151 cannons along with a further 20 mm MG 151 and a 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine gun fitted in a typically German Bola gondola [lower-alpha 1] directly underneath the forward dorsal gun turret, and a 20 mm MG 151 fitted in the tail operated by a gunner in a prone position. A pair of 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131s were also fitted in waist positions (Fensterlafetten).[ citation needed ]

The Ju 290A-5 featured a further increase in armour protection and the fitting of dual 13mm MG 131 in a rear-facing position in the gondola. [14] [13] It also had two dorsal turrets, operating either a 20mm MG 151/20 or a 15mm MG 151/15. The last A-5, W. Nr. 0180, carried two 20mm MG 151 cannon in lieu of the smaller MG 131. [15] The Ju 290A-5 had the capability of launching guided munitions such as the Fritz X. [2]

The Ju 290A-6 was a 50-passenger transport aircraft that was adapted for the personal use of Adolf Hitler. [16]

The improved Ju 290A-7 version appeared in spring 1944 with 13 completed, of which 10 served with the long-range reconnaissance group, Fernaufklärungsgruppe (FAGr) 5. Some Ju 290A-7s and some Ju 290A-4s were fitted with a detachable nose turret armed with a 20 mm MG 151/20 for added defense against frontal attack.[ citation needed ] No bombs were carried, as it was intended that these models would be fitted with the FuG 203 Kehl radio guidance system to launch guided Fritz X and Hs 293 anti-ship glide bombs. [13]

According to the aviation historian Manfred Griehl, starting in September 1944, an additional three Ju 290s were constructed for "special purposes" by Junkers. RLM records show that production of the Ju 290 was halted in mid-1944, so those Ju 290s might have been unfinished airframes, one of which became the Letov L.290 Orel. [17] [18] [19]

During late 1943, work commenced on the Ju 290B-1, a high-altitude heavy bomber that was fully pressurised. [19] Work on the B-1 was abandoned in favour of the improved Ju 290B-2; however, this remained under development by the end of the conflict. [20] [19]

Operational history

Operational maritime patrol Junker Ju 290A-3 used by FAGr 5 on the ground Junkers Ju 290 A-3 FAGr 5 on ground.jpg
Operational maritime patrol Junker Ju 290A-3 used by FAGr 5 on the ground
Rear view with extended Trapoklappe ramp Ju290-3s.jpg
Rear view with extended Trapoklappe ramp

Several Ju 290s were lost in action during early 1943, including one on the Eastern Front while participating in the Stalingrad Airlift and two more while flying supplies to German forces in Tunisia.[ citation needed ]

A special long-range reconnaissance group, FAGr 5 (Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5), was formed on 1 July 1943 and, during the late summer of 1943, three of the new Ju 290A-2s were delivered to its 1 Staffel, which became operational at Mont-de-Marsan near Bordeaux on 15 October of that year. [13] They flew their first operational missions in November 1943, shadowing Allied convoys in cooperation with U-boats, often remaining airborne for up to 18 hours at a time.[ citation needed ]

Five Ju 290A-3s equipped with more powerful BMW 801D engines in unitized mounts followed, as did five Ju 290A-4s armed with improved dorsal turrets mounting 20 mm MG 151/20s. The Ju 290s were well suited to their patrol role and began replacing the Fw 200 Condors. An A-4, Werk.Nummer. 0165, was experimentally equipped with attachments for Fritz X and either the Henschel Hs 293 or Hs 294 anti-ship weapons, and fitted with the FuG 203e Kehl radio control transmitter system for controlling any of them after release; it was surrendered to the US after the war and flown across the Atlantic to be studied. [7]

In November 1943, a second Staffel was activated and, with a range of over 6,100 km (3,790 mi) the Ju 290s ranged far out over the Atlantic, relaying sightings of Allied convoys to U-boats. 11 Ju 290A-5s with increased armour, heavier armament and self-sealing fuel tanks were delivered to FAGr 5 early in 1944, as were around 12 of the Ju 290A-7 version; the A-7 could carry three Hs 293 glide bombs or Fritz X armoured, anti-warship remote controlled guided bombs when fitted with the FuG 203 Kehl radio guidance system for them, and featured a redesigned nose section which combined a 20 mm cannon installation with the FuG 200 radar aerial array.[ citation needed ]

Towards the end of 1943, Admiral Dönitz demanded that the entire output of Ju 290s be made available for support of the German U-boat campaign. However, only 20 were assigned for this purpose. Even though both Hitler and Dönitz demanded an increase, the Luftwaffe General Staff declared it was unable to assign any more for naval reconnaissance purposes. The General Staff argued that there could be no increase in output so long as the Luftwaffe was not conceded "precedence in overall armaments".[ citation needed ]

In the spring of 1944, after Albert Speer had taken over the direction of air armaments, the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe High Command) boldly announced that production of the Ju 290 was to be suspended despite it being urgently needed for maritime reconnaissance; suspending production meant that resources could instead be diverted to building fighters. At that point in time, Speer's position was weak and Hermann Göring (head of the Luftwaffe) was trying to find allies to help him strip Speer of his power, and the Luftwaffe was not prepared to offer the Navy more than "goodwill". [21]

On 26 May 1944, shortly after daybreak, a Hawker Sea Hurricane, piloted by Sub-lieutenant Burgham from the escort carrier HMS Nairana protecting a convoy, shot down Ju 290 (9V+FK) of FAGr 5 over the Bay of Biscay. The afternoon of the same day, Sub-lieutenants Mearns and Wallis attacked two more Ju 290s. Mearns shot down 9V+GK piloted by Kurt Nonneberg, which ditched in the sea. The other Ju 290 disappeared on fire into cloud and was assumed to have crashed. [22] [23]

As the Battle of the Atlantic swung irrevocably in favour of the Allies with the loss by the Germans of French bases in August 1944, FAGr 5 withdrew eastwards and the remaining Ju 290s were reassigned to transport duties, including service with KG 200, where they were used to drop agents behind enemy lines and other special missions. [24] [25]

Ju 290 A-5, works number 0178, D-AITR, Bayern of Luft Hansa flew to Barcelona on 5 April 1945, piloted by Captain Sluzalek. The aircraft suffered damage to its landing gear on landing and was repaired with parts brought from Germany by a Lufthansa Fw 200. It remained in Spain because the Spanish Government ordered that regular Luft Hansa flights on route K22 be terminated from 21 April and was turned over to the Spanish authorities. [26]

Flights to Japan

Following the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, plans were made to connect Germany and Japan by air using Luftwaffe aircraft modified for very long range flights. Commercial flights to the Far East by Lufthansa were no longer possible, and it had become too dangerous for ships or U-boats to make the trip by sea. Field Marshal Erhard Milch authorised a study into the feasibility of such direct flights. Various routes were considered, including departing from German-occupied Russia and Bulgaria. Nautsi, near Lake Inari in the north of Finland, was finally selected as the optimum starting point for a great circle route along the Arctic Ocean then across eastern Siberia, to refuel in Manchuria before completing the flight to Japan.[ citation needed ]

In 1943, the Ju 290 was selected for the flights and tests began in February 1944 of a Ju 290 A-5 (works number 0170, Stammkennzeichen factory code of KR+LA) loaded with 41 tonnes (45 tons) of fuel and cargo. Three Ju 290 A-9s (works numbers 0182, 0183 and 0185) were modified for long-range work at the Junkers factory in March 1943. The plan was eventually put on indefinite hold after the Japanese failed to agree on a route, as they did not want to provoke the Soviet Union by an overflight of Siberia, and the three aircraft were eventually transferred to KG 200 without any attempt at a long-range flight to Japan.[ citation needed ]

The idea for a flight to Japan was revived again in December 1944 to transport Luftwaffe General Ulrich Kessler to Japan as a replacement for the German air attaché in Tokyo. Ju 290 A-3, no. 0163, was flown to Travemünde for the necessary modifications, but the work was delayed and it was decided to send Kessler aboard the submarine U-234 instead. [lower-alpha 2] The aircraft was destroyed on 3 May 1945 as British troops arrived. [27] Some sources claim that the trip to Japan took place, departing from Odessa and Mielec and landing in Manchuria. [28] [29]

KG 200

The Luftwaffe Special Operations squadron, KG 200 used the Ju 290 amongst its various aircraft types. On the night of 27 November 1944, KG 200 pilots Braun and Pohl flew a Ju 290 from Vienna to a position just south of Mosul, Iraq, where they successfully air-dropped five Iraqi parachutists; staging through the island of Rhodes, which was still under German occupation, they evacuated some thirty casualties from there to Vienna. [30] The unit was also allegedly involved in the evacuation of key Nazi officials in the closing days of the Second World War. [25]

Variants

Hitler's personal transport

On 26 November 1943, Ju 290 A-5, no. 0170, along with many other new aircraft and prototypes, was shown to Adolf Hitler at Insterburg, East Prussia. Hitler was impressed by its potential and told Göring that he wanted a Ju 290 for his personal use. [31] A Ju 290 was not however assigned to the Fliegerstaffel des Fuehrers (FdF) until late 1944, when an A-6 was supplied, works number 0192, which had formerly been assigned to FAGr 5. Modifications were completed by February 1945 at the FdF's base at Pocking, Bavaria, a Stammkennzeichen alphabetic designation code of KR+LW being applied. Hitler's pilot, Hans Baur, tested the aircraft, but Hitler never flew in it. [32] [16]

The aircraft was fitted with a special passenger compartment in the front of the aircraft for Hitler, which was protected by 12 mm (.5 in) armour plate and 50 mm (2 in) bulletproof glass. A special escape hatch was fitted in the floor and a parachute was built into Hitler's seat; in an emergency it was intended that he would put on the parachute, pull a lever to open the hatch, and roll out through the opening. This arrangement was tested using life-size mannequins. [33]

Hans Baur flew the aircraft to Munich-Riem airport on 24 March 1945, landing just as an air-raid alert was sounded. He went home after parking it in a hangar but on returning to the airport, he discovered that both hangar and aircraft had been destroyed by American bombers. [34]

Ju 290Z Zwilling

Junkers project documents from 1942 to 1944 indicate that a Zwilling (German: 'twin') variant was proposed. It was to be composed of two Ju 290 fuselages and powered by eight BMW 9-801 engines; two mounted on each outboard wing and four on the inboard wing. It was to carry a single Messerschmitt Me 328 jet parasite fighter on top of the right fuselage. The Ju 290Z was canceled in favor of the Ju 390. [35]

Amerika Bomber precursor

The long range of the Ju 290 made it a good candidate for further development concerning the Amerika Bomber project, competing with the airworthy prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 264, the never-built Heinkel He 277 and Focke-Wulf Ta 400 designs, and as a result, the six-engined Ju 390, based directly on the Ju 290 airframe with even longer range was built in prototype form, two airframes being completed and test-flown. [36] The Ju 290 itself was under consideration to serve as a tanker to refuel the Messerschmitt entry [37] in the Amerika Bomber design competition. In late 1942 Field Marshal Milch ordered that the possibility of increasing the fuel capacity of the Ju 290 to enable it to perform the Amerika Bomber mission itself.

The draw backs were twofold, chiefly being that the initial rate of climb would be very poor, and that the fully loaded airplane could only operate out of two airfields in France. [37] A lightened Ju 290E subtype was proposed in March 1943, but remained on paper. [38] [25] The Ju 390 at its gross weight required a tow to take off. Initially, a He 111Z was tried but the Ju 390 was predicted might be unstable in such an instance so plans were changed to use two Ju 290s instead. [39] During May 1942, engineers at Junkers had done calculations to investigate the possibility of refueling the Ju 390 in flight from a Ju 290, [40] something that had been proposed earlier for the same sort of duty to support the initial high-altitude version of the rival Heinkel He 177A, the proposed A-2 subtype – with such capability, the range of the He 177A-2 would have been extendable to some 9,500 km (5,900 mi) of total flight distance. [41]

By March 1943, consideration of using a Ju 290 to refuel another was made and the result was to see up to four Ju 290s converted to be tankers or long range bombers. [39] [42] Tanker/receiver experiments continued in early 1944, when two Ju 290 A-2s were tested under operational conditions from Mont de Marsan in France. [43] [44] As Germany lost access to the ocean — and the cancellation of both the He 277 on Hitler's 55th birthday, [45] followed by the Me 264's cancellation on 23 September 1944; the America Bomber role soon evaporated, and by October 1944, all production was stopped. Both the Ju 290A-8 and Ju 390A-1 were each intended to use two of the under-development, Borsig-designed Hecklafette HL 131V quadmount tail turrets (each armed with four Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131 machine guns apiece), with one turret in its originally intended role for rearwards defence and, one in the nose, adapted for forward defence.[ citation needed ]

Post-war use

Alles Kaputt on display in the US after the war Junkers Ju-290A-5 "Alles Kaput" (4978679276).jpg
Alles Kaputt on display in the US after the war

A number of Ju 290s survived the war, the Allies evaluating at least three examples, none of which was known to have survived intact into the 21st century.

Operators

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spanish State

Specifications (Ju 290 A-5)

Data fromJunkers Aircraft and engines, 1913–1945, [50] German aircraft of the Second World War, [51] The Warplanes of the Third Reich [52]

General characteristics

1,080 kW (1,450 hp) at 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
980 kW (1,310 hp) at 5,800 m (19,030 ft)

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 87</span> 1935 dive bomber aircraft family by Junkers

The Junkers Ju 87, popularly known as the "Stuka", is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 and served the Axis in World War II from beginning to end (1939–1945).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor</span> German prop-driven aircraft built 1937–1944

The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies, is an all-metal four-engined monoplane designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Focke-Wulf. It was the first heavier-than-air craft to fly nonstop between Berlin and New York City, about 4,000 miles (6,400 km), making the flight from Berlin-Staaken to Floyd Bennett Field on 10/11 August 1938 in 24 hours and 56 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinkel He 111</span> World War II German medium bomber

The Heinkel He 111 is a German airliner and bomber designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in 1934. Through development, it was described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Due to restrictions placed on Germany after the First World War prohibiting bombers, it was presented solely as a civil airliner, although from conception the design was intended to provide the nascent Luftwaffe with a heavy bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinkel He 219</span> German night fighter of World War II

The Heinkel He 219 Uhu ("Eagle-Owl") is a night fighter designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. It primarily served with the Luftwaffe in the later stages of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse</span> German fighter-bomber

The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse (Hornet) is a heavy fighter and Schnellbomber designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt. It was flown by the Luftwaffe during the latter half of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arado Ar 234</span> 1943 German jet bomber by Arado

The Arado Ar 234 Blitz is a jet-powered bomber designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Arado. It was the world's first operational turbojet-powered bomber, seeing service during the final years of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 388</span> 1943 multi-role combat aircraft family

The Junkers Ju 388Störtebeker is a World War II German Luftwaffe multi-role aircraft based on the Ju 88 airframe by way of the Ju 188. It differed from its predecessors in being intended for high altitude operation, with design features such as a pressurized cockpit for its crew. The Ju 388 was introduced very late in the war, and production problems along with the deteriorating war conditions meant that few were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 188</span> 1940 bomber aircraft family

The Junkers Ju 188 "Rächer" ("Avenger") was a German Luftwaffe high-performance medium bomber built during World War II, the planned follow-up to the Ju 88 with better performance and payload. It was produced only in limited numbers, due both to the presence of improved versions of the Ju 88, as well as the increasingly effective Allied strategic bombing campaign against German industry and the resulting focus on fighter production.

<i>Amerikabomber</i> WWII German projects for long-range bomber aircraft

The Amerikabomber project was an initiative of the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) to obtain a long-range strategic bomber for the Luftwaffe that would be capable of striking the United States from Germany, a round-trip distance of about 11,600 km (7,200 mi). The concept was raised as early as 1938, but advanced plans for such a long-range strategic bomber design did not begin to appear before Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring until early 1942. Various proposals were put forward, but these plans were all eventually abandoned as they were too expensive, too reliant on rapidly diminishing materiel and production capacity, and/or technically infeasible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinkel He 177 Greif</span> German heavy bomber during WW2

The Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin) was a long-range heavy bomber flown by the Luftwaffe during World War II. The introduction of the He 177 to combat operations was significantly delayed by problems both with the development of its engines and frequent changes to its intended role. Nevertheless, it was the only long-range, heavy bomber to become operational with the Luftwaffe during the conflict. The He 177 had a payload/range capability similar to that of four-engined heavy bombers used by the Allies in the European theatre.

The Heinkel He 277 was a four-engine, long-range heavy bomber design, originating as a derivative of the He 177, intended for production and use by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The main difference was in its engines. While the He 177 used four engines in two coupled pairs which proved troublesome, the He 277 was intended to use four unitized BMW 801E 14-cylinder radial engines, in single nacelle installations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dornier Do 217</span> 1940 bomber aircraft family by Dornier

The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful development of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift. Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber but not meant to be capable of the longer-range missions envisioned for the larger Heinkel He 177, the Do 217's design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940. It entered service in early 1941 and by the beginning of 1942 was available in significant numbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 88</span> German twin engine multirole combat aircraft

The Junkers Ju 88 is a twin-engined multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works. It was used extensively during the Second World War by the Luftwaffe and became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messerschmitt Me 264</span> German strategic bomber prototype

The Messerschmitt Me 264 was a long-range strategic bomber developed during World War II for the German Luftwaffe as its main strategic bomber. The design was later selected as Messerschmitt's competitor in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's Amerikabomber programme, for a strategic bomber capable of attacking New York City from bases in France or the Azores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 390</span> German prototype long-range aircraft of WW2

The Junkers Ju 390 was a German long-range derivative of the Junkers Ju 290 aircraft, intended to be used as a heavy transport aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and long-range bomber. It was one of the aircraft designs submitted for the abortive Amerikabomber project, along with the Messerschmitt Me 264, the Focke-Wulf Ta 400 and the Heinkel He 277.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 90</span> Type of aircraft

The Junkers Ju 90 was a four-engined airliner and transport aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 352</span> 1943 airlifter series

The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules was a German World War II transport aircraft that was developed from the Junkers Ju 252.

The Focke-Wulf Ta 400 was a large six-engined heavy bomber design developed in Nazi Germany in 1943 by Focke-Wulf as a serious contender for the Amerikabomber project. One of the first aircraft to be developed from components from multiple countries, it was also one of the most advanced Focke-Wulf designs of World War II, though it never progressed beyond a wind tunnel model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkers Ju 488</span>

The Junkers Ju 488 was a proposed four-engined German heavy strategic bomber under development in World War II. It was based on the twin-engined Ju 188 series but with additional engines mounted on a new wing inner section. One prototype was begun but never finished.

The Dornier Do 417 was a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft. Developed in 1942, it resulted from the Luftwaffe's request for a medium bomber, a contest in which Dornier, Junkers, Heinkel, and Blohm & Voss competed. In the end, the Junkers Ju 188 was chosen by the Luftwaffe, and the Do 417 never entered production.

References

Notes

  1. The fitting of such gondolas was common to almost all German bomber aircraft of the Second World War.[ citation needed ]
  2. U-234 was enroute to Japan when Germany surrendered in May 1945 and the commander headed to the North American coast instead

Citations

  1. 1 2 Zoeller, Horst. "Junkers–Who is who? E". The Hugo Junkers homepage. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 2016-06-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. 1 2 Gustin, Emmanuel. "Junkers Ju 290 and Ju 390." uboat.net. Retrieved: 4 June 2013.
  3. Smith and Kay 1990, pp. 418–422.
  4. Kay 2004, pp. 190–197.
  5. Smith and Kay 1972, p. 204.
  6. Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 201-203.
  7. 1 2 Sweeting 2001, p. 123.
  8. Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 420, 442.
  9. 1 2 Smith and Kay 1972, p. 442.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Smith and Kay 1972, p. 443.
  11. Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 442-443.
  12. Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 443-444.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Smith and Kay 1972, p. 444.
  14. Lepage 2009, p. 168.
  15. Hitchcock 1975, p. 15.
  16. 1 2 Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 444-445.
  17. Griehl 2006, p. 203.
  18. "Junkers Ju 290 and 390 Variants". Secret Projects Forum. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 Smith and Kay 1972, p. 445.
  20. "Junkers Ju 290". historyofwar.org. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  21. Deist and Schreiber et al. 1990, p. 657.
  22. Thomas 2003, pp. 81–82.
  23. "[Obituary of] Lt-Cdr Sammy Mearns". The Telegraph. 14 Jun 2009. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  24. Sweeting 2001, p. 124.
  25. 1 2 3 Smith and Kay 1972, p. 446.
  26. 1 2 Sweeting 2001, p. 116.
  27. Sweeting and Boyne 2001, p. 125.
  28. Polmar and Allen 1991, p. 455.
  29. Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 445-446.
  30. Stahl 1981, pp. 78–88.
  31. Sweeting 2001, p. 87.
  32. Sweeting and Boyne 2001, p. 85.
  33. Baur 2013, p. 184.
  34. Sweeting and Boyne 2001, p. 87.
  35. Herwig 2000, p. 48.
  36. Griehl 2006, p. 49.
  37. 1 2 Griehl 2006, p. 53.
  38. Griehl 2006, p. 93.
  39. 1 2 Griehl 2006, p. 45.
  40. Griehl 2006, p. 153.
  41. Griehl and Dressel 1998, pp. 57-58.
  42. Griehl 2006, p. 156.
  43. Ju 290 A-2 SB+QG, works number 0157, and Ju 290 SB+QH, works number 0158
  44. Griehl 2006, pgs. 156–157.
  45. Griehl and Dressel 1998, p. 203.
  46. "Nazi B-29 Carries 90 Men." Popular Mechanics, November 1945, p. 10.
  47. Samuel 2004, pp. 317–322.
  48. Cruz July/August 1999, pp. 50–54.
  49. Kay and Couper 2004, p. 202.
  50. Kay and Couper 2004, pp. 197–202.
  51. Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp.  442–446. ISBN   0851778364.
  52. Green 1972, pp. 506–510.

Bibliography

Further reading