2. FASCIST GERMANY

THE LUFTWAFFE.

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ARADO AR81 - The Arado Ar81 was a German prototype dive bomber. Because the Reich Air Ministry decided to purchase the competing Junkers Ju87, only three prototypes of the Ar81 were completed. In its developed Ar81V3 form, the Arado design was in several aspects better than the Ju87 prototypes, including level speed, manoeuvrability, range, and especially rate of climb. However, the Ju87 was a more modern design and its performance could be improved by installing more powerful engines, while the Ar81 had less development potential.
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ARADO AR81 - The Arado Ar81 was a German prototype dive bomber. Because the Reich Air Ministry decided to purchase the competing Junkers Ju87, only three prototypes of the Ar81 were completed. In its developed Ar81V3 form, the Arado design was in several aspects better than the Ju87 prototypes, including level speed, manoeuvrability, range, and especially rate of climb. However, the Ju87 was a more modern design and its performance could be improved by installing more powerful engines, while the Ar81 had less development potential.

  • ARADO AR81 - The Arado Ar81 was a German prototype dive bomber. Because the Reich Air Ministry decided to purchase the competing Junkers Ju87, only three prototypes of the Ar81 were completed. In its developed Ar81V3 form, the Arado design was in several aspects better than the Ju87 prototypes, including level speed, manoeuvrability, range, and especially rate of climb. However, the Ju87 was a more modern design and its performance could be improved by installing more powerful engines, while the Ar81 had less development potential.
  • ARADO AR234 - The Arado Ar234 was the world's first operational jet-powered bomber, built by the Arado company in the closing stages of World War II. Produced in very limited numbers, it was used almost entirely in the reconnaissance role, but in its few uses as a bomber it proved to be nearly impossible to intercept. It was the last Luftwaffe aircraft to fly over England during the war, in April 1945. 210 aircraft were built but not all were completed, due to a shortage of engines. This variant, Type C, numbered only 7 complete aircraft.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV137 - The Blohm & Voss Bv137 was a German ground-attack aircraft of the 1930's. It was Blohm & Voss' entry into the contest to equip the re-forming Luftwaffe with its first purpose-built dive bomber, although that contest would eventually be won by the Junkers Ju87. Six Bv137 prototypes were built, 3 of Type A with Jumo radial engines and 3 of Type B with in-line engines. This aircraft is V1, the firdt of the Type A prototypes, which was destroyed in testing during 1935 when the ammunition for its guns exploded.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV138 - The Blohm & Voss BV138 Seedrache (Sea Dragon) was a World War II German trimotor flying boat that functioned as the Luftwaffe's main long-range maritime patrol and naval reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 297 BV 138's were built between 1938 and 1943. The aircraft was unusually powered by three engines, with one mounted high above the centreline driving a four-blade propeller, and one on each wing driving three-blade propellers. Unusual were the aircraft's twin boom tail unit, and gun turrets at the bow and the stern of the fuselage, as well as behind the central engine. These features together produced the aircraft's ungainly appearance. This aircraft is one of the pre-production prototypes.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV140 - The BV140 was a German multi-purpose seaplane of the 1930's. It was designed for use as a torpedo bomber or long-range reconnaissance aircraft. The Ha140 was a developed as a twin-engine floatplane, with an all-metal structure and an inverted gull wing, similar to the larger Ha139. The crew consisted of a pilot and radio operator, with a gunner in a revolving turret in the nose or in a second gun position to the rear. The torpedo or bomb load was accommodated in an internal bomb bay. Three prototypes were built, but the design was not carried any further, as the similar Heinkel He115 was selected for service.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV141 - Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft - Notable for it's asymmetrical appearance, the BV141 was never put into mass production, only 20 aircraft being built. It was a perfectly good aircraft but it lost out to the much more conventional Fw189.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV141 - Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft - Notable for it's asymmetrical appearance, the BV141 was never put into mass production, only 20 aircraft being built. It was a perfectly good aircraft but it lost out to the much more conventional Fw189.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV142 - Long-range Maritime Patrol/Transportation Aircraft - The Bv142 was developed as a Transatlantic mail aircraft for Lufthansa. Only 4 aircraft were built, all of which were converted to maritime patrol aircraft in 1940. It proved disappointing in service and all were soon relegated to transport duties, mainly to Denmark and Norway.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV142 - Long-range Maritime Patrol/Transportation Aircraft - The Bv142 was developed as a Transatlantic mail aircraft for Lufthansa. Only 4 aircraft were built, all of which were converted to maritime patrol aircraft in 1940. It proved disappointing in service and all were soon relegated to transport duties, mainly to Denmark and Norway. Seen here in pre-war civil use.
  • BLOHM & VOSS BV222 - The Blohm & Voss Bv222 Wiking was a large, six-engined flying boat of World War II. Originally designed as a commercial transport, and produced in only limited quantities, it was both the largest flying boat and largest aircraft to achieve operational status during the war. Only 13 aircraft were built, the type making it's first flight in September 1940. Designed prior to World War II to a Luft Hansa specification for a large passenger aircraft, it could carry up to 92 passengers, or 72 patients on stretchers over short distances at a maximum speed of 239 mph. This aircraft, V3, first flew on November 28th, 1941. She was destroyed along with V5 on June 20th, 1943, at Biscarrosse by RAF de Havilland Mosquito's.
  • BUCKER BU133 JUNGMEISTER - The Bu133 ';Jungmeister' was a single-seat advanced trainer, introduced to service from 1936, quickly becoming the standard Luftwaffe advanced trainer. It's performance was so good that it formed the Luftwaffe's aerobatic team.
  • DORNIER DO17 - Known as the 'Flying Pencil', the Do17 was introduced to Luftwaffe service as a light bomber in 1937, over 2000 having been produced by the time production ceased in 1940. It was retired from frontline service in 1941, many being supplied to other Axis airforces, surviving in the Finnish Airforce until 1952.
  • DORNIER DO17 - Known as the 'Flying Pencil', the Do17 was introduced to Luftwaffe service as a light bomber in 1937, over 2000 having been produced by the time production ceased in 1940. It was retired from frontline service in 1941, many being supplied to other Axis airforces, surviving in the Finnish Airforce until 1952.
  • DORNIER DO17 - Known as the 'Flying Pencil', the Do17 was introduced to Luftwaffe service as a light bomber in 1937, over 2000 having been produced by the time production ceased in 1940. It was retired from frontline service in 1941, many being supplied to other Axis airforces, surviving in the Finnish Airforce until 1952. Here we see a recovery squad working on a crashed aircraft, salvaging all usable equipment.
  • DORNIER DO18 - The Do18 entered service with Luftwaffe in 1936 as a maritime patrol aircraft, 170 being built. By the outbreak of War, it was already obsolescent and it was confined mainly to North Sea reconnaissance patrols, then relegated to training duties by mid-1941. A Do18 was the first German aircraft to be shot down in World War 2.
  • DORNIER DO24 - The Do24 was three-engine flying boat designed for maritime patrol and search and rescue duties. Introduced in November 1937, it was designed for the Dutch Navy and taken up by the Luftwaffe. During the War, it was built in Holland and in France, 279 eventually seeing service. Aircraft on the French production were taken over by the French Navy and served until 1952. 12 aircraft were supplied to Spain in 1944 and served until 1967. A Dutch machine is shown here.
  • DORNIER DO26 - Only 6 Do26's were built, 3 for Lufthansa to be catapulted from transatlantic liners as mail carriers, this aircraft, D-AGNT 'Seeadler' being the first built, and three for the Luftwaffe. After 1939, all were pressed into Luftwaffe service and used for transport duties. 'Seeadler' was destroyed by RAF Hurricanes on May 28th, 1940, in Rombaksfjord. Note the 4 engines in 2 nacelles.
  • DORNIER DO26 - Only 6 Do26's were built, 3 for Lufthansa to be catapulted from transatlantic liners as mail carriers and three for the Luftwaffe, including this aircraft, V4. The aircraft, assigned to the Test Unit at Travemunde, survived the War but it's subsequent fate is not known. Note the 4 engines in 2 nacelles.
  • DORNIER DO215 - The Dornier Do215 was a light bomber, aerial reconnaissance aircraft and later a night fighter, produced by Dornier originally for export, but in the event all except two served in the Luftwaffe. Like its predecessor, the Dornier Do17, it inherited the title "The Flying Pencil" because of its slim fuselage. When was broke out in 1939, 18 aircraft had been completed to a Swedish order and these were i9mmediately pressed into Luftwaffe service. A further 87 aircraft were built for the Luftwaffe between 1939 and 1941, when production ceased in favour of the Do217.
  • DORNIER DO317 - In June 1940, Dornier produced plans for further development of the Do 217, which would have a pressurized cabin and more powerful engines and would be designated the Do 317. The Do 317 was one of the proposals submitted to the RLM for the "Bomber B" project. Two versions of the Do 317 were proposed: the simplified Do 317A featuring conventional defensive armament, and the more advanced Do 317B with remotely-aimed Fernbedienbare Drehlafette-style gun turrets, heavier bombload, and an extended wing. Six prototypes of the Do 317A were ordered, and the first of these, the Do 317 V1, seen here, commenced its flight test program on September 8th, 1943. The Do 317 V1 was very similar in appearance to the Do 217, but featured a pressurized cabin and triangular tail fins. Trials with the Do 317 V1 revealed no real performance advance over the Do 217, so it was decided to complete the remaining five prototypes without cabin pressurization equipment and employ them as Henschel Hs293 missile launchers. At this time, the Do 317B project was abandoned due to changing wartime conditions.
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