Junkers Ju 87 - The Stuka

Few aircraft that fought in World War II were as controversial and famous as the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber.

A symbol and instrument of the military power of the Third Reich, these aircraft were the impressive protagonists of the beginning of World War II.

From the second half of the 1930s, the Ju-87 represented a new class of fighter aircraft, arousing heated debates, especially within the Luftwaffe high command.

After the Polish and French campaigns, the Ju-87 became almost a legend, actively fueled by its supporters, who created an aura of superior and unparalleled armament around the aircraft.

Slow and angular, with poor survivability and rather weak fire protection, the Ju 87 was relatively easy prey for enemy fighters.

However, the high accuracy of its bombing and its effectiveness in combat more than made up for many of its shortcomings.

Once it had achieved air supremacy, the aircraft became an effective means of aerial terror, dropping bombs with terrifying accuracy and producing a devastating psychological effect on its victims.

The most widely produced version was the D series. The aircraft's armor had been reinforced and the defensive armament of the aircraft had been increased: 4 machine guns and 1,800 kg of bombs.