Initially designed as a fast medium bomber, the Junkers Ju 88 was also
used as a Zerstörer heavy fighter by the Luftwaffe. It saw its combat
debut over Poland in 1939, and heavy fighter variants saw action on
every front up to VE Day. The ultimate Ju 88 fighter variant was the
G-model of 1944, which boasted a FuG 220 or 227 radar, an astounding
array of cannon and machine gun armament, and advanced Junkers Jumo or
BMW engines.
A dedicated nightfighter, the first Ju 88G-1s entered service with the
Nachtjagd in the summer of 1944, replacing Ju 88C/Rs as well as some
Bf 110Gs. Despite suffering heavy losses in the final months of the war,
Ju 88Gs also inflicted serious casualties on Bomber Command right up to
VE Day.
Illustrated with original artwork, Ju 88 Aces of World War 2 tells the
story of the aces who menaced Allied aircraft and shipping throughout
the war, whether patrolling over the Bay of Biscay, to the Arctic circle
opposing Allied convoys and, most successfully, as radar-equipped
nightfighters engaging RAF heavy bombers during defense of the Reich
operations from late 1941.