Junkers Ju-88 is a German, twin-engine, multi-role aircraft in the spine-wing configuration, with a classic tail and all-metal structure. The flight of the prototype took place on December 21, 1936, and the entry into service took place in 1939. The first production series was powered by Jumo 211A engines. Thanks to good flight characteristics, considerable performance and a solid construction on the basis of the Ju-88, several different versions of the aircraft have been created, performing various functions. The first mass-produced version is the Ju-88A, with many revisions. It served as a medium bomber. Its three revisions have been adapted to desert operations (A9, A10, and A11). Ju-88B planes, which were used as reconnaissance aircraft, were produced on a small scale. On the other hand, the Ju-88C was produced on a large scale, with BMW 801 engines, which was a great night fighter. The Ju-88-C6c version featured the SN-2 radar and the Schrage Musik cannons. The D version is another reconnaissance version, but with new engines. Another development model is the famous Ju-88G, which is a night fighter with more and more modern aircraft radars (SN2, SN3, FuG-218, and finally the FuG-240 centimeter radar in the Ju-88G-7C version) and more powerful versions of engines. In addition, the following versions were created: Ju-88H, Ju-88p, Ju-88S and Ju-88T. The plane was used during the September Campaign, the War in Western Europe and the Battle of Britain in 1940, on a large scale on the Eastern Front and in battles with the Allied bombing raids over the German skies. About 15,000 copies of this successful aircraft were built, all versions. Technical data (Ju-88G): length: 15.5 m, wingspan: 20.08 m, height: 5.07 m, maximum speed: 550 km / h, maximum range: 2500 km, maximum ceiling 9900 m, armament: permanent-4 MG151 cannons / 20 20mm machine guns, 1-2 MG131 13mm machine guns and 1-2 MG151 / 20 20mm cannons in the Schrage Musik system.The Junkers Ju-87 Stuka (short for German Sturzkampfflugzeug, meaning dive bomber) is a German single-engine dive bomber with a classic tail, wings in an inverted gull-wing configuration and all-metal construction. The Ju-87 is one of the most famous Luftwaffe aircraft, a symbol of its power next to the Me-109. At the beginning of the war (1939-1941) it became a symbol of the Blitzkrieg, often causing panic among enemy soldiers by installing acoustic sirens (the so-called jerychońskie trunks), causing a specific sound during a diving flight. The creator of the machine was Hermann Pohlmann, and the Ju-87 first flew into the air in 1935, and went into production two years later. During the civil war in Spain, without encountering any serious enemy in the air, he could prove effective in the missions for which he was created. Thanks to the possibility of a very steep diving, while maintaining a relatively low speed, it achieved a very high bombing efficiency. Stuka's fame was confirmed during his activities in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Greece and Crete. However, during the Battle of Britain, slow Stukas with a permanently mounted landing gear were simply massacred by RAF planes, and as a result they were delegated to attack less defended targets. On the Eastern Front, the Ju-87 played a role primarily as a close support aircraft and an excellent tank destroyer. Hans Ulrich Rudel - the Luftwaffe pilot, honored with the greatest number of awards, had 519 destroyed Soviet tanks on his account. During the war, the production of the Ju-87 was suspended many times, but it always turned out that it should be restarted because there was no other aircraft that could worthily replace it. During the war, a dozen or so versions and versions of the Ju-87 were created. The first mass-produced was the Ju-87 B (Berta). It was driven by two versions of the Jumo 211 engine with 1000KM or 1200KM. It served as a land-based dive bomber. In turn, the Ju-87R (Richard) was launched into attacks on naval targets. It had a greater range than the B version, but was a bit slower. The D (Dora) version was the most widely produced and most frequently modified. They had new versions of the Jumo 211 engine with 1420 and 1500HP. The Ju-87D featured better armor than its predecessors. The last large-scale version of the Ju 87 was the Model G (Gustav), an attack aircraft and "tank destroyer", which entered the line units in early 1943. The main weapons of this version were the two 37mm Bordkanone BK 3.7 cannons mounted in the trays under the wings. The Ju-87G also had improved armor. During the entire war, approximately 5,900 units of all versions of the Ju-87 were manufactured. Technical data (version Ju-87B): length: 11m, wingspan: 13.8m, height: 4.23m, maximum speed: 390km / h, maximum range: 500km, maximum ceiling 8200m, armament: fixed - 3 machine guns cal .7.92mm, suspended - up to 450 kg of bombs.The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-engine single-engine fighter with a metal structure with canvas elements from the Second World War. Acting on all fronts during the Second World War, the Hawker Hurricane earned the name of one of the best and most ubiquitous airplanes of that time, both as a fighter and an attack plane. Undoubtedly, however, the most significant card in the history of this machine was its contribution to the victory of the British in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The plane constructed by Sydney Camm at the request of the Ministry of Defense was supposed to become the main force of the British air fleet. For the first time, a prototype of an aircraft powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk.II engine took off on November 6, 1935, piloted by Georg Bulman. The tests were excellent and it was quickly decided to order 600 machines, the first of which entered service with the 111th squadron of the RAF in December 1937. When Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany on September 3, 1939, the RAF had 19 ready-to-fight Hurricane squadrons, which started their military career with operations in France and Norway. During the course of the war, several versions of this very successful plane were created. The first mass-produced version was the Mk.I with the Merlin III engine. From 1940, the Mk.II versions with the new Merlin XX engine with a capacity of 1280 HP began to be delivered to the units. It was this version, as the first variant of Hurricane, that performed primarily assault and battlefield support tasks. Its best variant was the Hurricane Mk.IID, used by min. in the North Africa campaign in 1942. The third version is the Hurricane Mk.IV with the new Merlin 24/27 engine, 1620HP. It served as an assault machine armed with bombs, unguided missiles and Vickers S cannons until 1944. A sea variant (Sea Hurricane) was also produced, which served on aircraft carriers and on specially adapted merchant ships (Sea Hurricane Mk.IA). Technical data (Mk.IIC version): length: 9.84m, wingspan: 12.19m, height: 4m, maximum speed: 547km / h, rate of climb: 14.1m / s, maximum range: 965km, maximum ceiling 10,970m Armament: fixed - 4 20mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, sling - up to 460 kg of bombs.
Supermarine Spitfire is probably the most famous British fighter from the Second World War. It was an all-metal machine with a low wing configuration, characteristic elliptical wings, a classic tail and a retractable landing gear. The prototype flight took place on March 5, 1936. The Spitfire proved to be the RAF's staple of the war, which continued to do well after the war, remaining in production for 10 years. The history of the Spitfire began on the drawing desk of RJ Mitchell, Supermarine's lead designer. The first machines went to RAF units in 1938, but when the Battle of Britain began in the summer of 1940, there were already 19 squadrons of modern fighters at the airfields - together with the slightly older Hurricanes of the Islands, 600 aircraft were defending. With the expansion of hostilities, the Spitfire served wherever the RAF operated in the Far East, North Africa and Italy, during the Normandy landings and fighting in France, and finally during the operation in Germany in 1945. For many Britons, he became a symbol of victory in World War II. This wonderful machine has at least a dozen production versions. The most important of them are, among others the first mass-produced Spitfire Mk.I powered by a 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine. It was above all this machine that made such an excellent contribution to the Battle of Britain. Many versions of this model have been developed, including PR Mk IA (reconnaissance version) or PR.IG (armed reconnaissance version). Another interesting version was the Spitfire Mk.V with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine with 1440HP. Later, Merlin 50 engines were also assembled. Serial production of this version started in 1941 and was the RAF's response to the appearance of the Messerschmitt Bf-109F. Another very successful version is the Spitfire Mk.IX, powered by a Merlin 61 engine with a 4-blade propeller. It was created as an opponent to the Focke-Wulf Fw-190 and was put into production at the end of 1941. This version was modified many times and, for example, in 1944 it got a new gyro sight, an enlarged rudder or a different wing system. Another major version is the Spitfire Mk.XIV with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 engine and a five-bladed propeller. Serial production started in October 1943. One of the last series produced was the Mk.21 version. This version had a Griffon 61 engine, a strongly reinforced structure and sheathing, the wings were extended, increasing their flying surface. Mass production started in March 1945. Technical data (Mk.XIV version): length: 9.14m, wingspan: 11.23m, height: 3.05m, maximum speed: 717km / h, rate of climb: 18.5m / s, practical ceiling: 13,200m, range maximum: 1815 km, armament: fixed - 4 7.7mm machine guns and 2 20mm Hispano Mk II cannons, suspended - up to 225 kg of bombs.