Junkers Ju87 Stuka (Crowood Aviation) [Hardcover]

Peter C. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | Series: Crowood Aviation

One of the most recognizable Axis aircraft of World War Il, the German Junkers Ju87 divebomber wreaked fear and loathing on the British populace during the Battle of Britain. Military aviation historian Peter Smith relates the full story behind the design and development of the plane perhaps best known for its vertical dive capabilities and the terror-inducing shriek it emitted when pushed into one of those dives. Smith also uses 250 archival photos to describe the Stuka's operational use over Britain and later in the Balkans, North Africa, and Russia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book will be of interest to the aviation historian, Luftwaffe historian, aircraft buff and modeler alike. ---IPMS, reviewed by Hub Plott, October 2011 --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Peter C. Smith is an internationally renowned author who has written several books and articles for leading military and aviation magazines. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (UK); First edition (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861261772
• ISBN-13: 978-1861261779
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,332,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Stuka buff, February 15, 2000

By 

benredbone "redboneben" (Northwest PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Junkers Ju87 Stuka (Crowood Aviation) (Hardcover)

Peter C. Smith is the author several out of print and currently available books on the Stuka. This book is thorough and well researched, detailing many minor details and little known facts about this well known aircraft. The photos are all b&w and not as valuable as many other books on the market for model builders. There is a lot of "meat" in this book and must be read to be appreciated, however there is usually one or two photographs on every page that illustrates the corresponding text.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Accurate, very good, March 17, 2002

By 

cpt matt (tanktown, DE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Junkers Ju87 Stuka (Crowood Aviation) (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much more than a nuts & bolts history of the development of the JU-87 Stuka, Peter Smith sets about to present an other version of this dive bomber's successes compared to the typical English & US histories.

Although technical and developmental details are present, along with many fine photos (all black & white, would have preferred a few color), the real heart of this book are the stories behind the Stuka. The pilots, the sorties are recountered here. Also of great interest to a land warfare buff are the stories of air/land battles, the coordination behind the blitzkreig, how the army & airforce learned to work together to beat foes that outnumbered them & had better equipment. Smith also uses facts to back up his position that the Stuka as a bomber, suffered losses less than Lancasters, B-17s, Bristol Blenhiems when those aircraft were used in daylight raids without escort.

In the end, it really doesnt matter if the Stuka was a war winner. The Germans were outnumbered, outproduced, outfought, so no matter what was produced, the end result would be the same. While the Stuka was not a war winner, this book does provide more balance to the fact that it was a good weapon system, especially considering it was on the cutting edge of technology when designed in 1933/34. It survived to fight through the last days of WWII, a claim few others can make. I definately recommend this book.