Description
The Junkers Ju188 was a German Luftwaffe high-performance medium bomber built during World War II, the planned follow-up to the Ju88 with better performance and payload. It was produced only in limited numbers, due both to the presence of improved versions of the Ju88, as well as the increasingly effective Allied strategic bombing campaign against German industry and the resulting focus on fighter production.
The Ju188 was designed to be fitted with either the Jumo 213A or BMW 801 G-2 engines without any changes to the airframe. It was intended that both would be known as A models but the naming was later changed: the Ju188 A model powered by the Jumo 213 and the Ju188 E by the BMW801. The first three production Ju188 E-1 machines were delivered with BMW engines in February 1943, followed by another seven in March and eight in April. A conversion testing unit was formed up in May and after testing were attached to an operational unit, with the first mission, an attack by three Ju188 E-1s on a factory in Lincoln, Lincolnshire taking place on 18 August 1943.
By the end of the year, 283 Ju188s had been delivered (including Ju188 Fs) and two new factories were added to the production effort. Most operational machines differed from the prototypes only in having a 20mm MG 151/20 cannon in the nose and dorsal turrets in place of the 13 mm MG 131. The MG 131 was intended to be used in the Ju188 E-1 or the G-2 but the heavy armament in the A and E series was the MG 151/20. The Ju188 E-2 was built as a torpedo-bomber but was identical to the Ju188 A-3.
This data tag was the MAIN data plate located on the Ju188. It indicated the aircraft type, serial number, and manufacturer.
Made of aluminum, this is a FANTASTIC piece. It features some slight scratches, bends, and marks but it is VERY SOLID otherwise. Some slight dirt and corrosion, however all information is CLEARLY legible. Made by Junkers, markings indicated are:
Ju188 E-1
260xxx
jbq
A VERY RARE item that would make a FANTASTIC addition to any collection or display!
