The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, "dive bomber") was a two-seat (pilot and rear gunner) German ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, the Stuka first flew in 1935 and made its combat debut in 1936 as part of the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

The aircraft was easily recognizable by its inverted gull wings, fixed spatted undercarriage and its infamous Jericho-Trompete ("Jericho Trumpet") wailing siren, becoming the propaganda symbol of German air power and the "Blitzkrieg" victories of 1939-1942. The Stuka's design included several innovative features, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the plane recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high acceleration. Although sturdy, accurate, and very effective, the Ju 87 was vulnerable to modern fighter aircraft, like many other dive bombers of the war. Its flaws became apparent during the Battle of Britain; poor manoeuvrability, lack of speed and defensive armament meant that the Stuka required a fighter escort to operate effectively.

The Stuka operated with further success after the Battle of Britain, and its potency as a precision ground-attack aircraft became valuable to German forces in the Balkans Campaign, the African and Mediterranean Theaters and the early stages of the Eastern Front campaigns where Allied fighter resistance was disorganized and in short supply. Once the Luftwaffe had lost air superiority on all fronts, the Ju 87 once again became an easy target for enemy fighter aircraft. In spite of this, because there was no better replacement, the type continued to be produced until 1944. By the end of the conflict, the Stuka had been largely replaced by ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, but was still in use until the last days of the war. An estimated 6,500 Ju 87s of all versions were built between 1936 and August 1944.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a German Junkers Ju-87B-2 Stuka dive-bomber was attached to 9/Sturzkampfgeschwader 51, Norrent-Fontes, France, August 1940. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 6-1/4-inches

Release Date: September 2015

Historical Account: "Jericho" - The Junkers Ju 87, or Stuka as it was commonly known, was a two-man ground attack aircraft and dive bomber. Having been designed by Hermann Pohlmann, the Stuka first took to the skies in 1935 and made its combat debut during the Spanish Civil War. During the early stages of the Battle of Britain it proved itself as a potent anti-shipping weapon. On the afternoon of July 4th, 1940, a large number of Ju 87s delivered the single most deadly assault on British territory in history, when avoiding interception by the RAF, they sank the 5,500 ton anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank in Portland Harbour, killing 176 crew. One of the ships gunners, Leading Seaman John Foreman Mantle was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for maintaining his fire despite terrible injuries.