The 3 Forgotten Junkers Bombers That Failed in WWII

Over time, numerous aircraft have marked their place in history, but not all have been celebrated or even widely recognized. Among such overlooked aircraft are three models developed by Junkers during World War II. Despite their critical roles, the Junkers Ju-290, Ju-90, and Ju-390 remain largely unknown to many. The tangled development history of these aircraft reveals more about wartime aviation challenges and limited successes than the technical triumphs typically celebrated.

Junkers Ju-90

The story begins with the Ju-90, an aircraft born from the remnants of a failed bomber project. Initially planned as the Ju-89, an ambitious bomber aimed at reaching strategic targets across the USSR, the project shifted as German military focus and resources were reallocated. With strategic bombing deprioritized, the design was recalibrated for commercial use in 1936 under the moniker Ju-90. Despite this pivot, the aircraft became more utilized by the German Air Force than by commercial airlines like Lufthansa. It first took flight on August 28, 1937 and was well-received for its handling but faced setbacks due to engine supply issues.

The Ju-90, hampered by insufficient engine power post the ceasing production of the intended Daimler Benz DB600 engines, was modified to accommodate the less powerful BMW 132H engines. This major change doubled its handicap, leading to only eight of these versions being produced. These modifications did little to further the aircraft’s original promise or performance.

Junkers Ju-290

Building on the limited success of the Ju-90, engineers expanded the blueprint to develop the Ju-290. This model was an evolution rather than a revolution, with enhancements primarily around armament, engine power, and payload capacity. The first flight tests for the Ju-290 occurred in 1942, with the model entering rapid pre-production soon thereafter. Fitted with BMW 801 engines, the craft offered improved performance but was still plagued with developmental challenges, such as changes in engine types and structural refinements due to the heavier engines.

The first of the Ju-290s were earmarked for non-combat roles, used predominantly for testing rather than combat. As the war progressed, the model saw various iterations: the A2 model featured enhanced weaponry and radar systems for maritime patrol, while later models, like the A5, incorporated significant armoring and self-sealing fuel tanks to bolster survivability and performance.

Junkers Ju-390

Next comes the Ju-390, a design that intended to stretch the capabilities of the Ju-290 even further by adding two more engines and enlarging the frame, aiming at performing ultra-long-range missions. Its development was spurred by a specification for a bomber capable of reaching the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, known as the America bomber program. Despite the ambitious goal, the program was wrapped in secrecy and saw minimal success, with only two prototypes ever built, and the extended flight capabilities remaining unproven and speculative.

Throughout the war, the operations using these aircraft outlined their limitations more than their strengths. Whether it was the failed airlifts during the Siege of Stalingrad, where Ju-290s attempted rescues and supply runs only to face catastrophic losses, or the anti-submarine patrols in the Atlantic, the expected performance rarely matched reality. Untimely technical failures, insufficient numbers, and operational mishaps overshadowed the few successes.

Moreover, despite their larger scale and advanced designs, these aircraft were repeatedly redirected away from their initial designs. The Ju-90 and Ju-290 found themselves shuffled among various roles—from troop transports to maritime patrol to courier services between Europe and far-east Asia—none of which aligned perfectly with their original commercial or military intents.

During the war’s final years, remnants of this aircraft fleet were scattered, serving in diminishing capacities, or captured and studied by the Allied forces. Post-war, the remaining few met unceremonial fates—either scrapped for parts or left to languish in forgotten airfields as symbols of overreach and unfulfilled potential.

As varied as these craft were in design and function, their stories reveal the harsh realities of wartime aviation development—marred by rushed design changes, resource limitations, and the relentless pace of military needs that often outstripped technological capabilities. These forgotten bombers of Junkers not only failed in their wartime missions but also in securing a famed place in aviation history.