With the Luftwaffe buoyed by the Ju 88A-1’s performance when it first saw action as a bomber in October 1939 with I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 30 (I./KG 30), a fighter version soon appeared on the Junkers production line. The Ju 88 V7 prototype fighter had first flown in September 1938, and this resulted in the production of 20 Ju 88C-1s. This twin-engined fighter was essentially a converted Ju 88A-1 powered by Junkers Jumo 211B engines that featured a solid nose, rather than the distinctive glazed nose of the bomber. The modified nose section housed a single 20 mm MG 151 or MG FF cannon and three 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, all of which were mounted forward of an 11 mm armoured bulkhead. It could also carry a small bomb load.

Being a fighter, the crew reduced from four to three – Flugzeugführer (pilot), Bordfunker (radio operator) and Bordschütze (gunner). Of note, the first prototype C-1, Wk-Nr 0096 (coded CN+NR), had false panelling painted onto its nose to make it look like a Ju 88A-1.

With a maximum speed of more than 500 km/h, the Ju 88C-1 was comparable with the only other German Zerstörer at that time, the Messerschmitt Bf 110. However, the Ju 88C-1 had a range of more than 2250 km with internal fuel, compared to the Bf 110’s of around 900 km. To increase its range, the Bf 110 required either a fixed ventral tank and/or two underwing drop tanks, all of which had a detrimental effect on the aircraft’s combat performance.

Four months after the Ju  88A-1’s operational debut, a new unit was formed equipped with the Ju 88C-1. Over the years that followed, the Ju 88C-1, C-2, C-4 and C-6 would see combat operations over Norway, Britain, the Atlantic, North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Soviet Union and mainland northwest Europe by day and night as an intruder, nightfighter, heavy day fighter and train-buster.

Ju 88C VARIANTS

Ju  88C-1 – 20 aircraft converted from Ju 88A-1 and delivered February– April 1940. Powered by Jumo 211B-1 engines. Armed with one MG 151 or MG FF cannon and three MG 17 machine guns (all forward-firing), one MG 15 (rear-firing) and a 500 kg bomb load carried internally.

Ju 88C-2 – 20 aircraft converted from Ju 88A-5 (enlarged wingspan) or Ju 88C-1 and delivered April–September 1940, with an additional 20 delivered date unknown. Powered by Jumo 211B-1 engines. Armed with one MG 151 or MG FF/M cannon and three MG 17 machine guns (all forward-firing), one MG 15 (rear-firing) and a 500 kg bomb load carried internally.

Ju 88C-4 – based on Ju 88A-4 (enlarged wingspan), 60 built/converted from Ju 88A-5 and delivered September 1940–April 1941. Powered by Jumo 211B-1 engines. Armed with one MG 151 or MG FF/M cannon and three MG 17 machine guns (all forward-firing), one MG 15 (rear firing) and a 500 kg bomb load carried internally.

Ju 88C-6 – around 900 built, based on Ju 88A-4. First 17 Ju 88C-6/B (short range) then Ju 88C-6/C became standard. Powered by Jumo 211F/J engines. Armed with three MG FF/M cannon and three MG 17, two MG 131 or two/three MG 81 machine guns (all forward-firing) and one MG 81Z (rear-firing).

Note – single Ju 88C-3 converted from Ju 88A-5 Wk-Nr 0367 which became single Ju 88C-5 (with BMW 801 engines and no forward-firing cannon) and then the first of four Ju 88C-7s (fast strategic reconnaissance)

To support the Bf 110s, Do 17Zs and Do 215s in the nightfighter role, construction of a newer type of Ju 88C commenced in November 1941, this aircraft being designated the C-6. Ju 88C-2s and C-4s were also used for nightfighting (as well as intruding), but it was the C-6 that carried out the bulk of night operations, as well as operating in other daylight roles.

Ju  88C-6s were assembled at Junkers Flugzeug-und Motorenwerke AG, Zweigwerk Bernburg (JFM-FZB), with components such as wings, fuselages and engines being manufactured elsewhere. Despite assembly starting in November 1941, very few were delivered until the following year, NJG 2 being the initial recipient.

JFM-FZB produced around 99 between November 1941 and May 1942, 149 between June and December 1942 and 209 between December 1942 and April 1943. The vast majority of the C-6s were assembled by Siebel at Halle between April and December 1943 – a maximum of 797. Of course, only a fraction of these airframes were used as nightfighters. Furthermore, from late 1943, a number were converted into Ju  88R-1s or R-2s – essentially Ju  88Cs fitted with BMW 801 engines.

The Ju 88C-6 would be the first variant to be fitted with AI radar on a regular basis. This was initially FuG 202 Lichtenstein BC and then FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1 and FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN 2. The Ju 88C-6 was also fitted with the FuG 101 radio altimeter and FuG 227 Flensburg radar homer. This equipment, coupled with increased armament and improved range and engines, made the Ju 88C the most potent nightfighter variant to date. It would not be replaced by the Ju 88G-1 until 1944.

Although the Ju 88C-6 was nearing the end of its operational life in early 1944, the aircraft continued to soldier on in ever dwindling numbers as best it could until the end of the war. The Ju 88R series had now emerged as its replacement, the R-1 essentially being a C-4 with BMW 801ML engines and FuG 212. The R-2 was identical to the C-6, but again fitted with BMW 801TP engines and FuG 212, FuG 220 or SN 2 radar. The R-1 was built as a conversion of the C-4, while 188 R-2s were constructed from scratch between 1943 and June 1944. Despite its obsolescence as a nightfighter by late 1943, the Ju 88C-6 was still capable of inflicting telling losses on the enemy when flown to its strengths.

You can find out more about operations in COM 161 Junkers Ju 88C Day and Nightfighters.

Ju 88C-0 Wk-Nr 0096 CN+NR of Z.St./KG 30, Ludwigslust, Germany, spring 1940