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Ju87
Manufacturer : Junkers
Number Built : 6500
Production Began : 1936
Retired : 1945
Type :
By 1935 the German Luftwaffe was developing its first monoplane divebomber which entered production in 1936 as the Ju87 Stuka. The Stuka was to evolve into arguably the most successful single engine Axis divebomber of WW II. Utilizing a nearly vertical dive position the Stuka was stunningly accurate in the days when horizontal bombing was a relatively inaccurate science. The Ju87 was built for functionality and ruggedness. A fixed landing gear and exceptionally strong wing design were incorporated and no attempt was made to minimize protrusions. The Stuka was not designed for speed; it was an aerodynamic nightmare. The Stuka also incorporated a siren which when activated during a dive was designed to inflict psychological damage on the enemy below. The Ju87 was used with tremendous success in the Blitzkrieg attacks on Norway, Poland, Belgium, France, Holland, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Virtually unchallenged in the air during these Blitzkriegs the Stukas took a devastating toll on Allied ground and mechanized forces. Shipping was also vulnerable to the pinpoint attacks of the Stuka, and the Ju87 destroyed more Allied shipping than all other German aircraft put together during WW II. During Hitlers air attacks on Britain the Stukas reputation for invulnerability was shattered. Facing British Hurricanes and Spitfires the slower and less maneuverable Ju87s were destroyed in large numbers, eventually forcing their withdrawal from that conflict. Germanys attempt to develop an improved twin engine divebomber resulted in the introduction of the Messerschmitt 210 which was an unmitigated disaster. As a result, the Stuka remained in production longer than expected and the aircraft played a major role in Germanys surprise attack on Russia. In the first day of combat alone Stukas were credited with the destruction of over 700 Russian aircraft with minimal losses. One of Germanys top aces of WW II was Hans-Ulrich Rudel. Rudel flew over 2,500 combat missions in Ju87s, and was shot down on twelve occasions. Rudel was credited with destroying 519 tanks, 800 vehicles, 150 artillery pieces, one Russian battleship, one cruiser and one destroyer. Rudel was also credited with shooting down nine Russian aircraft in air-to-air combat.
Ju87
  Tank-Busting Stuka by Jason Askew. (P) |   Ju87 Stuka Dive-Bombing by Jason Askew. (P) |   Stuka Ace by Jason Askew. (P) |   Ju87 Stukas by Jason Askew. (P) |
Ju87 Artwork Collection |
  Stuka - Tribute to Hans Rudel by Ivan Berryman. |   Stuka Ju87 - Preparing for the Day by Ivan Berryman. |   The Jaws of Victory by Ivan Berryman. |
  Fairey Battle, 218 Squadron by Ivan Berryman. |   Bombing Up - Stuka of Hans Rudel by Ivan Berryman. |   Straggler's End by Ivan Berryman. |
  Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey by Jason Askew. (P) |   The Stuka Myth by Jason Askew. (P) |   Stukas of SG2 by Jason Askew. (P) |
  Stukas of SG77 by Jason Askew. (P) |   SG77 Stuka Attack by Jason Askew. (P) |   Tribute to Hans-Ulrich Rudel by Jason Askew. (P) |
  Stuka Legend - Hans-Ulrich Rudel by Jason Askew. (P) | Ju87 Stukas by Jason Askew. (P) | Stuka Ace by Jason Askew. (P) |
Ju87 Stuka Dive-Bombing by Jason Askew. (P) | Tank-Busting Stuka by Jason Askew. (P) |   Clipped Signature - Franz Kieslich. |
  Clipped Signature - Paul Egger. |   Clipped Signature - Hans Rudel. |   Clipped Signature - Friedrich Lang. |
 Scorched Earth - Stuka |   Czech - Mate by David Pentland. |   Dawn Raiders by Ivan Berryman. |
  A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman. |   Uneven Odds by Robert Taylor |   Stuka by Robert Taylor. |
  Battle of Kursk by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) |   Tribute to Maresciallo Ennio Tarantola by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Hans-Ulrich Rudel by Ivan Berryman. |
  Tank Hunters by David Pentland. |   Stukas over England, South Coast, July 1940 by David Pentland. |   The Stukas Prey, Crete, May 1941 by David Pentland. |
  Target ahead, Kursk, Central Russia, July 1943 by David Pentland. |  Junkers JU87. |   Sirens of Death by Stan Stokes. |
  Yellow 14 by Stan Stokes. |
| Top Aces for : Ju87 | ||
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name. | ||
| Name | Victories | Info |
| Hans-Ulrich Rudel | 11.00 | The signature of Hans-Ulrich Rudel features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
