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In the opening days of Nazi Germany's Blitzkrieg campaigns, few aircraft could invoke as much terror as the Junkers Ju 87. Nicknamed the "Stuka" (an abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug - the German term for "dive-bomber"), the Ju 87 was perhaps the most feared tactical bomber of the ETO. With its fixed landing gear and inverted gull wings, the Stuka was easily one of the most recognizable aircraft of the Blitzkrieg era. Although a sturdy and reliable dive-bomber, the Stuka's effectiveness was largely psychological in nature. Its dive-activated air siren produced a dreadful wail - which could incite panic in even the most disciplined of enemy ground units. However, the Stuka's effectiveness waned during the later years of the war. Lightly armored and ill-suited for air combat maneuvering, the Stuka was easy prey for Allied fighters. This title follows the Ju 87 from its development and early deployment through its operational history in the skies over Europe.
Osprey's Air Vanguard #15, Junkers JU87 Stuka, is an excellent overview of the famous WWII dive bomber. Mike Guardia gives the reader an excellent chronicle of the Stuka's history and combat record and Osprey provides the usual excellent color plates and period photos.The author introduces the reader to the JU87 with a brief intro into the desire for dive bombers within the German Luftwaffe and moves on to the technical specifications. Each version is documented including the JU87G tank-buster and the long range JU87R model. Engine and weapon upgrades are included in this section.The author gives the reader a history of the Stuka's combat history from the Spanish Civil War where the JU87 received its baptism of fire all the way to the end of the war in 1945 - with every major stop in between. Spain, Poland, Norway, France and the Low Countries, Battle of Britain, the Balkans, Greece, Crete, the USSR...there are summaries of Stuka missions from each of these battlefields. The author includes a number of first-hand accounts from both pilots and rear gunners - something I like to read is the words of the men who were there. The reader gets a good impression on the combat effectiveness of the Stuka as a bombing platform.The only minor quibble I have with the book is the silly, and all-to-frequent, comment that the Stuka was vulnerable to enemy fighters. Well duh! Any aircraft optimized for bombing or ground attack is going to be simply by its nature. The same can be said of the IL2 Stormovik, The SBD Dauntless, and even the supposed "Flying Fortress" was literally blasted out of the sky by enemy fighters without fighter escort. The difference between these aircraft and the Stuka is that, as the war went on, the allied side became completely dominant in the air.Still and all, it's a very good work, a good introduction that even has some good suggestions for further reading. I'll add a very good DVD on the Stuka: War Archive - Dive Bombers I recommend this book with five stars.
