Junker 88

A wartime shadow lurks beneath the waves off Marseille, the Junker 88. This Schnellbomber, or “fast bomber,” was designed to outrun enemy fighters, a testament to German engineering during World War II. The Junker 88, initially envisioned as a sleek bomber, became a versatile tool for the Luftwaffe. It served as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, and even a heavy fighter. The Junker 88 was a workhorse, its assembly line running non-stop from 1936 to 1945. Over 15,000 Ju 88s were built, a staggering number reflecting its importance to the German war effort. The Junker 88 saw action across numerous fronts. From the invasion of Poland to the Battle of Britain, the Eastern Front to the North African campaign, it left its mark. One particularly successful variant was the Ju 88G night fighter. Equipped with advanced radar, it proved a formidable opponent for Allied bombers. Some even featured “Schräge Musik,” upward-firing cannons designed to target bombers from below. One notable incident involved a Ju 88 R-1 night fighter. In May 1943, its crew, disillusioned with the Nazi regime, defected to Britain. This defection provided the Allies with crucial intelligence on German radar technology, including the FuG 202 Lichtenstein radar. The aircraft itself became a valuable asset for the RAF, aiding in the development of countermeasures that protected Allied bombers. Today, this very Junker 88 rests in the RAF Museum, a silent witness to a daring escape and a turning point in the air war. The Junker 88 at Marseille is another example of this versatile aircraft. It lies broken beneath the water. Yet, it speaks volumes about the ingenuity and the desperation of wartime innovation.