World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Ju 388 Störtebeker aircraft were developed from the Ju 88 and Ju 188 line of bombers by Junkers. When German intelligence learned the altitude capabilities of a new American heavy bomber design (which was eventually designated the B-29 Superfortress), there were thoughts that this path of Ju 188 development were originally branch off to potentially intercept such American bombers. Just as B-29 bombers were never deployed against Germany during WW2, Ju 388 development never moved toward that direction, either; only three night fighter variants were actually built. Instead, most of the about 100 total Ju 388 Störtebeker aircraft built were capable long range reconnaissance aircraft; a small number of them were built as high altitude bombers. In early 1945, a Ju 388 Störtebeker aircraft, flying at the altitude of 13,410 meters over the English Channel, was shot down by a Spitfire fighter flying at a lower altitude; this engagement is said to be the highest altitude shoot down of WW2. In 1945, a Ju 388L-1 aircraft was captured at the Junkers Merseburg plant in May 1945, which was tested in Germany and the United States; this aircraft now belongs to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the United States, awaiting restoration.

SPECIFICATIONS

Ju 388J

Machinery	Two BMW 801J 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine rated at 1,810hp each
Armament	2x20mm MG 151 forward cannons, 2x30mm MK 103 or MK 108 forward cannons, 2x13mm MG 131 remoted controlled tail machine guns
Crew	3
Span	22.00 m
Length	16.29 m
Height	4.35 m
Wing Area	56.00 m²
Weight, Empty	10,400 kg
Weight, Maximum	14,675 kg
Speed, Maximum	616 km/h
Speed, Cruising	540 km/h
Service Ceiling	13,440 m

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