Revell's 1/32 scale
Junkers Ju 88 A-4
by Hans Peter Tschanz
My Wife Verena and I had the pleasure of meeting Max Lagoda at a Memorial Service in Bätterkinden.
He was the guest of honour and told us stories from his life.
He was a soldier through and through, and his camera accompanied him throughout his soldier's life in Russia and the orient.
But Max Lagoda also photographed everything to the left and right of the road, i.e. Markets, Towns and people he met.
I built the Ju 88 in Honor of Max Lagoda in which he flew as a radio operator.
The kit is a Revell 1/32 Junkers Ju 88 A
Data on the Junkers Ju 88
Reconnaissance Aircraft Junkers Ju 88 D Reconnaissance Aircraft derived from the A Series with Camera Equipment, without dive Brakes, up to 5000 km Range with 5380 l of Fuel (3580 l + two 900 l Drop Tanks)Ju 88 D-1: Long-range Reconnaissance Aircraft, developed from A-4, Jumo 211 J
Ju 88 D-2: Long-range Reconnaissance Aircraft, developed from A-5, Jumo 211 B or G
The Ju 88 was developed as a fast Bomber. It served as a dive Bomber and for Bombing from Higher Altitudes, it was just as successful as a Fighter Aircraft at Night as it was as a Torpedo Bomber against Ship Targets. It Could be used as a Fighter against Tanks and for Rail Hunting, it was a Minelayer and Reconnaissance Aircraft.
In its final Days, it was in the Mistelgepaar of bomb Carriers under the Messerschmitt Bf 109 or the Focke Wulf 190. When the Second World War Ended, the Ju 88 was still in Full Production and up to that Point more Ju 88s had been built than all Other Bombers of the Luftwaffe Combined - Over 15,000 Aircraft.
Planned and built as a fast Bomber, the Ju 88 Set the first World Record for the 1000km Distance in March 1938 with 517 km/h, a Speed that even the Fighter Aircraft of the time Could not Reach. The first Series Version, the Ju 88A-1, was put Into Service by KG 25 - Later Renamed KG 30 "Adlergeschwader" - but had Aircraft to take part in the Hostilities on September 1, 1939. It was not until March 1940 that KG 30 was the first operational unit to be fully Equipped with Ju 88s. At the same time, Junkers began work on a New Wing, which not only had a larger Wing span but also a Wing tip. Previously, the Wing and ailerons of the Ju 88A-1 were Completely open at their Ends. This new Wing has already been Introduced into Current Production and has also been Retrofitted to the Aircraft that were still in Existence.
The first real Test for the Junkers Ju 88 was the "Battle of Britain", which began on August 8, 1940 with "Eagle Day". Apart from KG 30 (Fighter Squadron), only a Portion of KG 51 "Edelweiss" was Equipped with Ju 88s at this time. The Experience led to Stronger defensive Armament. Instead of the Four MG 15s Previously used, the more modern MG 81 - Usually in Twin MG 81Z Mounts - was now used. At the same time, Stronger Armor was Introduced to Protect the Crew. With Series Production now in Place (2208 Aircraft in 1940), other Squadrons were able to be fully Converted to Ju 88s, including the Training Squadron 1 (LG 1). The Ju 88 thus became the Luftwaffe's Standard Bomber and bore the brunt of Attacks against Ground and Ship Targets in all Theaters of war from Norway to Africa. The Ju 88 was particularly successful against Ship Targets, as it Could also be used as a dive Bomber with bomb Carriers under the Wings - a Particular Advantage when Attacking Point Targets. The Ju 88 was also used Successfully as a Long-range Reconnaissance and Long-range Reconnaissance Aircraft over Russian Territory and in the Orient. Series Production of the Ju 88 was not Stopped until the End of 1944. A total of 5501 Aircraft of the A-4 Series were built.
Model, Images and Text Copyright ©
2024 by Hans Peter Tschanz
Page Created 3 December, 2024
Last Updated
3 December, 2024
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