The real story of the Stuka was on the Eastern Front and will be inextricably linked to one pilot in particular, one Hans-Ulrich Rudel. The Stuka came unstuck in the Battle of Britain campaign as it was vulnerable to fighter interception and Stuka units were withdrawn from the battle due to heavy losses. The Ju 87 was an integral weapon of the “Blitzkrieg”, serving with distinction in the Polish, Norwegian, Belgian, and French campaigns, the aircraft became famed and feared. Combined with terror inducing “Jericho Trumpets”, the Stuka was an effective and feared weapon. At the outset of World War 2 the Stuka was a potent dive bomber and close-support aircraft. Designed by Herman Pohlmann, the Ju 87 first flew in 1935 and started its long and illustrious combat career in 1937 as part of the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War. Instantly recognisable, the Stuka is one of the most iconic aircraft of all time and is a legend in the history of aviation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |