Category Archives: Medium Bomber

Medium Bomber

Heinkel He 343A-1 (Planet Models, Resin)

TYPE: Medium bomber. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and observer

POWER PLANT: Four Heinkel/Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,300 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 565 mph

COMMENT: The Heinkel He 343 was a four-engine jet bomber project by Heinkel Aircraft Company in the last years of WW II. In 1944 a total of 20 of these aircraft were ordered. For shortening the development time and for re-use of existing parts, its general design was envisioned along the lines of an enlarged Arado Ar 234 “Blitz” (“Lightning”). For a choice of engines, the Junkers Jumo 004 and the Heinkel HeS 011 were planned. The DFS (Deutsche Forschungsinstitut für Segelflug), (German Research Institute for Gliding Flight) was involved in the project and created the project known as P.1068. By the end of 1944, work was nearly finished by the Heinkel engineers, with parts for the He 343 prototype aircraft either under construction or in a finished state, when the order was cancelled due to the “Jägernotprogramm (Emergency Fighter Program). Four versions were planned: the He 343A-1 bomber, the He 343A-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the He 343A-3 and He 343B-1 “Zerstörer” (“Destroyer”) heavy fighters.
The Heinkel He 343A-1 was to be the bomber version. Depending on the engines used, the bomb load ranged between 2000 kg to 3000 kg, with 2000 kg to be carried internally, and 1000 kg to be carried externally. Trials were to be held with the Fritz X radio controlled bomb, which would have also added a third crew member. Defensive armament consisted of two fixed rear firing MG 151 20 mm cannon with 200 rounds each, which were mounted in the rear fuselage. None aircraft was completed. However, after WW II the Soviet Union utilized the design as the basis for the development of the Ilyushin Il-22, changing some of the parameters such as size and crew numbers. One prototype was built and flown. The results of the tests were used in development of the Ilyushin Il-28 (Ref: 24).

Focke-Wulf Fw P. 031 0239/10 (3 x 1000 Bomber Project B), (Planet, Resin)

TYPE: Fast medium bomber.Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,300 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 659 mph at 45,900 ft

COMMENT:  In 1944, Focke-Wulf Aircraft Company projected three designs of a bomber using two Heinkel-Hirth He S 011 turbojets. These bombers were known under the unofficial designation  3 x 1000 Bomber-Projekt A, Projekt B and Projekt C. The designation “1000x1000x1000” meant that the aircraft could carry a 1000 kg (2205 lbs) bomb load over a distance of 1000 km (621 miles) and at a speed of 1000 km/h (621 mph).
The second design under the Focke-Wulf  internal designation Fw P.031 0239/10 “3×1000 Bomber, Projekt B” was of a flying wing layout. There was a small fuselage which held the cockpit and forward landing gear. The wing was swept back at 35 degrees and the fuel load in flexible tanks was carried ahead of the main wing spar. The engines and main landing gear were located behind the main wing spar. Two Heinkel-Hirth He S 011 jet engines each developing 1300 kg of thrust were fed by air intakes located in the wing leading edge near the wing roots.  The wing tips were bent downwards to act as vertical stabilizers and contained small rudders.  The ailerons also served as elevators and in addition small deflectors were mounted within the jet exhaust, one of the first uses of thrust vectoring.  The main landing gear retracted inwards and the nose gear swung up and forward. A single pilot sat in the extensively glazed cockpit located in the extreme nose, and no armament was planned at this stage in the development. A 1000 kg bomb load could be carried in the internal bomb bay located in the center wing. Since these designs would have taken several years to complete, the end of the war ended all development (Ref.: 17).

Focke-Wulf Fw 3 x 1000 Bomber Projekt C (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE: Fast medium bomber. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,300 kp thrust each

PERFORMANCE: 621 mph at 40,000 ft

COMMENT: In autumn 1944 the Focke-Wulf company proposed three different designs of fast bombers to meet the RLM’s “1000×1000×1000 Bomber” requirement. The request for proposals called for an aircraft with two turbojet engines and should be able to carry 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) of bombs over a distance of 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) with a speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour (620 mph). The third design (Projeckt C) was of conventional layout similar to the first design (Projekt A, while Projekt B was a flying wing design. Projekt C had wings and tail plane of parallel chord and the fuselage was deepened. The two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines were on underwing pylons to increase the mass-balance effect. They were also turned out of line to help enhance single engine controllability. The pilot was positioned in a forward cockpit, and one 1000 kg bomb (Hermann) could be carried. As with the other two other bomber projects the Focke-Wulf  Fw 1000x1000x1000 Bomber Projekt C remained on the drawing board (Ref.: 16).

Heinkel He P.1065 Ia (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE: Bomber, heavy fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of three

POWER PLANT:Two BMW 801E radial engines, rated at 1,550 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 400 mph at 19, 685 ft (estimated)

COMMENT: In 1942 Heinkel Aircraft Company was working on concepts for a new multi-purpose aircraft, able to fulfill different operational duties. Seven designs were elaborated that differed in many aspects.
Four designs, proposed as ”Versions I”, were competitors of the Junker Ju 288. He P. 1065 Ia was a two-engine bomber or heavy fighter, powered by two BMW 801E, rated at 1,555 hp each or two Junkers Jumo 222C engines, rated at 2,600 hp each. “Version Ib” was a somewhat different bomber and powered by two Junkers Jumo 222C engines, rated at 2,100 hp each. All designs had tail units with twin fins and rudders. He P. 1065 Ic was a twin-engine fast bomber design, powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 609 engines, rated at 2,270 hp each and conventional tail fin and rudder. The design was forerunner of what was projected as Heinkel He 319 V1.
Heinkel He P. 1065 IIc was an asymmetric low wing airplane, comparable to the Blohm & Voss Bv 141, proposed as a fighter bomber and powered by either BMW 803, rated at 3,500 hp or Daimler-Benz DB 619 engines, rated at 4,540 hp.
Finally, “Version III”, was a further development of the Heinkel He 119 as a fast bomber.  He P. 1065 IIIb should be powered by one Daimler-Benz DB 619, rated at 4,450 hp and had a tail unit with twin fins and rudders. Heinkel He P. 1065 IIIc was powered by one Daimler-Benz DB 613, rated at 3,100 hp and had conventional tail fin and rudder. This project should be further developed into Heinkel He 519. None of the seven projects were realized (Ref.: 19)

 

Dornier Do 417 V1 (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE:  Medium bomber, long-range reconnaicance. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Two BMW  801G engines, rated at  1,770 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 373 mph in 26, 247ft (estimated)

COMMENT: In 1942 the RLM called for proposals for an “Arbeitsflugzeug” (“Work aircraft” or general-purpose aircraft) used as horizontal- and dive-bomber, torpedo and missile-carrier as well as long-range reconnaissance. Invited were aircraft companies such as Blohm & Voss, Dornier, Heinkel, and Junkers. Blohm & Voss presented the Bv P. 163, Heinkel the He P.1065, Junkers the Ju 88E (which later became the Ju 188), and Dornier the Do 417. In December 1942 the decision was made in favor of the Dornier design and the prototype Do 417 V1 was scheduled for first flight in August 1943. Mass production should start in April 1944. The Do 417 V1 was powered by a BMW 801G engine, while in the Do 417 V2 Daimler-Benz DB 603A engines should be installed. Finally, for production-reasons and because of higher speed the Junkers Ju 188 was favored for production. (Ref.: 17)

Lippisch P.13-42 (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE: High speed bomber, fighter bomber. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: 2 x Daimler-Benz DB 605, rated  at 1,475 PS each

PERFORMANCE: Not available

COMMENT: This design for a tailless high-speed bomber is dated November 25, 1942 and originates from Dipl.-Ing. Josef Hubert, head of Lippisch’s aerodynamics section in Department “L”, as part of Messerschmitt Company. Two Daimler-Benz DB 605B engines provided power. One was mounted conventionally in the front of the fuselage the other was placed in the rear and drove a propeller via a short extension shaft.  The wings were swept back at approximately 18 degrees and 38 degrees. Since this was a tailless design, there were no horizontal tail planes but a single fin and rudder was set at the rear and extended slightly below the fuselage.  The two main landing gear legs were mounted near the wing’s leading edge, and retracted towards the fuselage. A single tail wheel retracted forward into the fuselage. The pilot sat in a cockpit placed midway along the fuselage. No armament was to be fitted at this stage, as it was felt the aircraft’s speed would be sufficient to prevent interception. As there was no internal bomb bay, the bomb load had to be carried externally. Although calculations were promising, this project remained on the drawing board (Ref. 16).

Heinkel He 343B-1 (Airmodel, Vacu)

TYPE: Heavy fighter, medium bomber.  Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and observer

POWER PLANT: Four Heinkel/Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,300 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 565 mph

COMMENT: The Heinkel He 343 was a four-engine jet bomber project by Heinkel Aircraft Company in the last years of WW II. In 1944 a total of 20 of these aircraft were ordered. For shortening the development time and for re-use of existing parts, its general design was envisioned along the lines of an enlarged Arado Ar 234 “Blitz” (“Lightning”). For a choice of engines, the Junkers Jumo 004 and the Heinkel HeS 011 were planned. The DFS (Deutsche Forschungsinstitut für Segelflug),  (German Research Institute for Gliding Flight) was involved in the project and created the project known as P.1068. By the end of 1944, work was nearly finished by the Heinkel engineers, with parts for the He 343 prototype aircraft either under construction or in a finished state, when the order was cancelled due to the “Jägernotprogramm (Emergency Fighter Program). Four versions were planned: the He 343A-1 bomber, the He 343A-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the He 343A-3 and He 343B-1 Zerstörer (“Destroyer”) heavy fighters.
The Heinkel He 343B-1 differed from the He 343A-1 bomber version especially in the tail unit. Instead of the two fixed rear firing guns in the fuselage rear, a FHL 151Z remote controlled turret was installed in the extreme rear fuselage. This necessitated a tail redesign to a twin fin and rudder set up. A rear facing periscope in the cockpit was used to aim the FHL 151Z turret, which was armed with two MG 151 20mm cannon. The twin tail would have made for extended flight testing, plus would have added additional weight and drag (Ref.: 17, 24).

 

Junkers Ju 388K-1 (Airmodel, Vacu, Parts from Italeri)

TYPE: High-altitude bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of three

POWER PLANT: Two BMW 801TJ engines, rated at 1,410 h.p. at 40,300 ft each

PERFORMANCE: 370 m.ph. at 40,300 ft

COMMENT: As the Ju 388L-1 the bomber variant Ju 388K-1 was fitted with a wooden ventral panner and it was intended to install the FA 15 tail barbette for defence. But neither the prototype Ju 388 V3 nor the 10 pre-production Ju 399K-0 bombers were equipped with the tail barbette. It was intended to replace the BMW 801TJ engines by BMW 801TM engines with ratings of 1,820 h.p. at 33,400 ft. Apart from e few sorties by the Ju 388L-1 reconnaissance model, the Ju 388 failed to see combat

Junkers Ju 188E-1 with LT 950 (Italeri)

TYPE: Medium bomber, torpedo bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of five

POWER PLANT: Two BMW 801G-2 air-cooled radial engines, rated at 1,700 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 310 mph

COMMENT: The Junkers Ju 188 was a German Luftwaffe high-performance medium bomber built during WW II, the planned follow-up to the famous Junkers Ju 88 with better performance and payload. It was produced only in limited numbers, due both to the presence of improved versions of the Ju 88, as well as the increasingly effective Allied strategic bombing campaign against German industry and the resulting focus on fighter production.
In grand total 1,234 aircraft were delivered until the end of the war in several subtypes Junkers Ju 188A & E, C, D & F, G & H, and R. The Ju 188 was designed to be fitted with either the 1,730 hp Jumo 213A or 1,680 hp BMW 801 G-2 engines without any changes to the airframe, with the exclusion of the re-design for Jumo-powered examples, of the annular radiators from their Jumo 211 layout for the A-series to better match the more powerful 213’s cooling needs, while still using essentially the same broad-chord three-blade propellers as the A-series did. It was originally intended that both would be known as A models, but the naming was later changed: the Ju 188A model powered by the Jumo 213, and the Ju 188E by the BMW 801.
The first three production Ju 188 E-1 machines were delivered with the BMW engines in February 1943, another seven in March, and eight in April. A special unit for conversion testing was formed up in May 1943, after testing the aircraft were attached to an operational unit, with the first mission taking place on 18 August 1943. By the end of the year, 283 Ju 188s had been delivered (including Ju 188Fs), and two new factories were added to the production effort.  Most operational machines differed from the prototypes only in having a 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in the nose and dorsal turrets in place of the 13 mm MG 131. The MG 131 I was intended to be used  in the Ju 188 E-1 or the G-2. But the heavy armament in the A and E series was the MG 151/20. The Junkers Ju 188 E-2 was built as a torpedo bomber, but was identical to the Junkers Ju 188 A-3 (Ref.: 24).

Junkers Ju 188E-2 with L 10_Friedensengel (Italeri)

TYPE: Medium bomber, torpedo bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of five

POWER PLANT: Two BMW 801G-2 air-cooled radial engines, rated at 1,700 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 310 mph

COMMENT: A modified torpedo bomber version of the German Luftwaffe high-performance medium bomber Junkers Ju 188 was the Junkers Ju 188E-2. These aircraft differed from the Junkers Ju 188E-1 by mounting a small, low-UHF-band FuG 200 “Hohentwiel” sea-search radar set under the nose (not shown on these pictures) and shackles for a torpedo for naval strike missions. The aircraft were delivered as the Ju 188 E-2 with BMW 801 air-cooled radial engines, and with the Jumo as the Ju 188 A-3. The only other difference was the removal of the outer pair of wing bomb shackles (Ref.: 24).