 Junkers
Ju 288/388/488
Black Cross Volume 2
By Karl-Heinz Regnat
Midland Publishing, ©2004
ISBN 1-85780-173-3
Softbound, 96 Pages
Available from Specialty Press
for $19.95
Following the first volume on the Ju 188,
this second title in the Black Cross series continues to look at the development
of Ju 88 spin-offs, this time with the advanced Ju 288/388/488 family.
For me, these are the really interesting Ju 88 variants, especially the
Ju 388, as I think they finally combined functionality with streamlined
attractiveness in that design. Following the successful development of
the Ju 188, Junkers decided to expand the capabilities of the original
Ju 88 further. The resultant Ju 288, Ju 388, and Ju 488 did not look much
alike, and in fact were separate distinct aircraft. This book therefore
devotes separate sections to each of these three designs.
The section on the Ju 288 provides background information on the "Bomber
B" program, a program aimed at providing a high-speed medium bomber
to replace the older Ju 88 and He 111 designs. Unfortunately, problems
with all of the main designs resulted in both of those older designs soldiering
on until the end of the war. The Ju 288 was a potent airframe with high
hopes, but problems with hydraulics and electrical systems kept it from
entering active service. This book details the development and creation
of the small number of Ju 288 aircraft, as well as some of the testing
done on the type. Photos and drawings, many of which are from original
German sources, complement the text.
The largest section of the book, though, details the history of the
Ju 388. The chapter entitled "The Favourite" outlines the development
of this attractive Ju 88 offshoot, while following chapters cover the
construction and trials of the aircraft. Equally of interest is the section
detailing the post-war evaluation of the Ju 388 by US, British, and Soviet
forces. While the first two are amply covered in photos, the text only
mentions the existence of photos of Soviet Ju 388s. Time to dig out those
old reference books again….
The final section on the Ju 488 offers a very interesting glimpse into
the minds of Junkers designers towards the end of the war. This large
4-engined bomber designed as a replacement for the He 177 was initially
to be a conglomeration of existing aircraft, with the forward fuselage
section, pressurized cabin, and wings coming from the Ju 388K/L, the fuselage
mid-section and tail of the Ju 188E, the wooden ventral turret from the
Ju 388K, and the tail empennage from the Ju 288C. A pair of fuselages
were completed in France, but were destroyed by the French Resistance
before they could be shipped out. Design changes modified the final shape,
but none were completed before the program was canceled.
This is an outstanding book on the little-known final variants of the
Ju 88 family, and the people behind the Black Cross series should be commended
for putting this together. Coupled with their first title on the Ju 188,
this book fills out an important niche in the world of German World War
Two bombers. My thanks to Specialty
Press for the review sample.
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