Corgi Aviation Archive Series Die-cast Model

Junkers Ju-88 A-5 – 9K+ED, Stab III./KG 51, German Luftwaffe, Winter 1940

1:72 Scale.  Length: 7.9”.  Wingspan: 11”


Limited Edition of 1,000 Models Worldwide

As a result of the RAFs bombing raid against Berlin on August 25 1940 and incorrectly assuming that Fighter Command was knocked out of the war, the Luftwaffe was directed to leave Britain’s fighter stations alone and concentrate their efforts on London. In a period which became known as the Blitz, starting October 1940, British cities were targeted by German bombers nightly and while these raids had a devastating effect on the civilian population it allowed Britain to galvanize its defenses and re-equip its battered fighter squadrons.

Arguably the most effective bomber available to the German Luftwaffe during World War II was the Junkers Ju 88, a ‘Schnellbomber’ which proved to be both capable and adaptable seeing service throughout the war and produced in significant quantities. For night bombing operations over Britain most of KG 51s Ju 88s benefited from some field applied camouflage which helped to make the aircraft less visible to British defenses. The undersurfaces were given a black paint wash that effectively masked all national insignia and fuselage markings were similarly blacked out. Only the top wing balkenkreuz was retained, presumably to aid with friendly unit recognition and to avoid incidents of friendly fire loss. It is interesting to note that of the many KG 51 Ju 88s lost over Britain during the night Blitz offensive, one lost during November 1940 was thought to have been the first victim of a radar equipped Bristol Beaufighter night fighter.

The Junkers Ju 88 was a twin-engine multi-role aircraft operated by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Designed in the mid-1930s, it became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war and proved to be suited for almost any role. First flown on December 21 1936, the Ju 88 entered operational service in 1939. It was used successfully as a fighter-bomber, dive bomber torpedo bomber, heavy fighter, night fighter, reconnaissance aircraft, and even as a flying bomb during the closing stages of the war. The Ju 88 was produced until 1945 with more than 16,000 built in dozens of variants, more than any other twin-engine German aircraft of the time.


The Corgi Aviation Archive features a wide selection of high quality, ready-made, diecast model airplanes. Each model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are built with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a Junkers Ju 88 features: