The Junkers Ju 288 was a German bomber aircraft designed during World War II, but which only ever flew in prototype form. The first of 22 development aircraft flew on November 29 1940.

Development

The Ju 288 was created as a contender for Reichsluftfahrtministerium's Bomber B project, a programme aimed at replacing the medium bombers in the Luftwaffe's inventory that were all based on designs of the early 1930s.

The aircraft was an advanced scaled-up Junkers Ju 88, sharing its general layout and most of its fuselage and wings with extensions in various places. The nose was completely redesigned, however, and featured a pressurised cockpit. The fuselage was also "deepened" along its length to allow for a much larger bomb bay that would allow for an 8,000 lb (3630 kg) payload to be carried internally.

Power was to be supplied by two 24-cylinder Jumo 222 radial engines but problems with Jumo 222 development meant that the first prototypes flew with BMW 801 engines instead. When it became apparent that the Jumo 222 was not likely to become a viable powerplant in the current war situation, Daimler Benz DB 606s were used. This was the same engine layout used on the Heinkel He 177, and the Ju 288 now showed the same problems that the Heinkel aircraft exhibited.

As these technical difficulties were being dealt with, the lack of a decisive strategic bombing doctrine within the Luftwaffe meant that the mission and purpose of the Ju 288 remained nebulous throughout its development. In 1944 the project was finally abandoned as the Luftwaffe's priorities became more intensely focused on homeland defense.

Variants

• Ju 288A - first seven prototypes with BMW engines
• Ju 288B - seven prototypes with slightly enlarged airframes and better defensive armament
• Ju 288C - final eight prototypes (of which only four were completed) with Daimler-Benz engines. This version was selected for serial production in 1944, but the programme was abandoned before that could take place.
• Ju 288D - mock-up of a Ju-288C with improved tail armament
• Ju 288G - design for an anti-ship version armed with a 355 mm recoilless cannon

Specifications (Ju 288B)

General characteristics

• Crew: four
• Length: 17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 22.7 m (74 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 64.6 m² (696 ft²)
• Empty: kg (lb)
• Loaded: 20,950 kg (46,186 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 21000 kg
• Powerplant: 2x Daimler-Benz DB606 A-1/B-1, 1,985 kW (2,700 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 620 km/h (388 mph)
• Range: 2,700 km (1,678 mile)
• Service ceiling: 9,296 m (30,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 435 m/min (1,420 ft/min)

Armament

(typical)

• 4 × 13 mm MG 131 machine guns
• 1 × 15(20) mm MG 151(-20) cannon
• 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) of bombs

Related content

Related development: Ju 88 - Ju 188 - Ju 388 - Ju 488

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: Fl 285 - Ju 286 - Ju 287 - Ju 288 - Ju 290 - Me 290 - As 292