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VI

Junkers Ju 87B Stuka

Junkers Ju 87B Stuka

One of the most effective dive-bombers of the Second World War, the Ju 87 Stuka played a major role in Germany's conquest of Europe and contributed significantly o the campaigns in North Africa and Russia. Hailed as the supreme weapon by Hitler's propaganda ministry, the Stuka proved to be an effective dive-bomber against pin-point targets and it shattering scream became synonymous with the type during the Blitz of 1939/40. This aircraft characteristic aesthetics benefit from the sinister cranked-wing appearance. The one depicted in the illustration fought in the Battle of Britain.

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Lockheed P-38J Lightning

Later version of the famous twin-engined and twin-tailed escort fighter. The illustration depicts an European-based 8th Air Force Lightning. The armament consisted of one 20-millimeter Hispano cannon and four 12,7 mm Browning machine guns and the engines were two 1425 HP Allison V-1710-89/91.

Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Messerschmitt Bf 109E

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E was an early version of the powerful Second World War fighter, which added improved armament and armor to the previous versions BF 109C and BF 109D. It gained for the Luftwaffe the essential air superiority neede to support early German campaigns in Europe. On the original E version the armament consisted of two 7,92-millimeter Rheinmetall-Borsig MG-17 machine guns and two 20-millimeter Oerlikon MG-FF cannons, and the propulsion was given by the 1100 HP Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine. The one depicted in the illustration fought in the Battle of Britain.

Messerschmitt Bf 109F

Messerschmitt Bf 109F

Most widespread fighter on the Luftwaffe, the Bf 109 stablished itself as one of the major combat aircraft of the Second World War, fighting as it did from 1939 until 1945, and being operated by a number of world countries in the years after the war (most interesting example would be the Czech-made Avia S-199 variant that Israel employed against the Egyptian Spitfires in the war of 1948). The F version began replacing the Bf 109E in squadron service in 1941 and proved itself to be a much refined aircraft with a greater combat performance that out-matched the RAF's early Spitfires. It was issued to Luftwaffe units throughout Europe and the Mediterranean being flown by some of the German air force's greatest aces. The armament consisted of two 7,92-millimeter MG-17 machine guns and one 20-millimeter MG-151 cannon, while the engine was a 1200 HP Daimler-Benz DB 601N.

Me Bf 110 and Spitfire IX

Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Supermarine Spitfire IX

Two outstanding fighting aircraft of the Second World War, the immortal British Spitfire and the Me Bf 110D, most successful of the sub-types of this twin-engined heavy fighter. Both of these aircraft were continually developed throughout the war. In the illustration the heavy Me Bf 110 pays the consequences of being not much suitable for a dogfight combat.

Messerschmitt Me 262

Messerschmitt Me 262

The legendary Me 262 "Schwalbe", with its characteristic and sinister shark-shaped fuselage, was the first jet-propelled fighter in the world that became operative and the first aircraft built with swept wings. On the time of its introduction it the fastest aircraft, able to reach 870 km/h thanks to two 900 kg power Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojets, as well as the most heavily armed fighter aircraft, mounting four 30-millimeter Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 108 cannons on the nose. Postwar variants of the Me 262 served in the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1957.

Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

The Me 323 Gigant was the largest cargo plane built in the Second World War, capable of a load of 17 tonnes. It was a motorized version conceived from the huge glider Me 321 by adding six 1160 HP Gnome-Rhône 14N engines.

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