The Junkers Ju 288, originally known within the Junkers firm as the EF 074, was a German bomber project designed during World War II, which only ever flew in prototype form.
The first aircraft flew on 29 November 1940; 22 development aircraft were eventually produced.
The Ju 288 was the winner of the Bomber B contest, although the contest was started by the Junkers firm’s submission of the EF 074 and their selection was never really in doubt.
The Bomber B concept of a Schnellbomber was originally intended to replace the Junkers Ju 88.
The Ju 288 offered a design that was larger, offered cabin pressurization for high altitude missions, had longer range, a much greater bomb payload, was even faster, and had improved defensive firepower.
The design was intended to replace all the bombers then in Luftwaffe service.
Delivering all of these requirements in a single airframe demanded much more powerful engines; all of the Bomber B concepts, at one time or another, relied on the Junkers Jumo 222 engine to deliver this power.
Ultimately, the Jumo 222 was a failure in spite of massive effort and several redesigns over a period of several years, with nearly 300 development prototypes produced.
No suitable replacement was ever forthcoming, dooming the Ju 288 program, and leaving the Luftwaffe with older bomber designs during the second half of World War II.
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 with two Daimler-Benz DB 606 or 610 “power system” engines.
This version was selected for serial production in 1944, but the program was abandoned before this 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 355.6 mm (14 in) recoilless cannon
Ju 388 Störtebeker
The Junkers Ju 388 Störtebeker is a World War II German Luftwaffe multi-role aircraft based on the Ju 88 airframe by way of the Ju 188.
It differed from its predecessors in being intended for high altitude operation, with design features such as a pressurized cockpit for its crew.
The Ju 388 was introduced very late in the war, and production problems along with the deteriorating war conditions meant that few were built.
Ju 388J
Heavy fighter / night fighter.
Ju 388K
High-altitude bomber.
Ju 388L
Photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
Ju 388M
Proposed torpedo bomber based on the Ju 388K.
‘145’
A captured Ju 388L modified with an early ‘fly by wire’ control system in support of the development of the Soviet OKB-1 150 jet bomber.
