Junkers Ju87 Stuka - 12

The Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka' (a contraction of the German word Sturzkampfflugzeug, ie dive bomber) was arguably the Luftwaffe's most recognisable aeroplane, with its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage.

Designed by Hermann Pohlmann as a dedicated dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft, the prototype first flew in 1935, and made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

After several design changes in the light of operational experiences, the 'Stuka' went on to serve the Luftwaffe and Axis forces, from the invasion of Poland in 1939, through the Battles of France and Britain in 1940, over the North African desert and the across Mediterranean, the invasion of Russia and the subsequent bitter fighting in that vast area, and following several more design changes and upgrades, continued to serve through to the end of World War Two.