The Ju-88 was, like the Bf-110, very much a 'jack of all trades' as it was operated not only as a bomber, but also as a recce bird, night fighter, dive bomber, heavy fighter, torpedo bomber and other missions as required. The type that first saw combat in early 1940 was the A-1 variant. This differed in many ways from the later types, primarily in its shorter wingspan. Yet for the first year of the war, this was pretty much the best that the Germans had.

In this second volume of the Ju-88, Kagero has concentrated on the short wing A-1 and A-2 versions, covering its operations from the beginning of its operational career until the fall of France in early June 1940. The book provides pretty much a day by day look at the various operations of Ju-88 units from their early anti-shipping role through the Norway campaign as well as the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Though the aircraft served well, often bringing home crews in a very shot up bomber, it also sustained quite a few losses, though not as many as defending fighters may have claimed.

This book is really divided into two parts. The first half is the aforementioned operational history of the aircraft, full of photos of planes and crews, while the second half is all 3D artwork that concentrates on some of the systems of the Ju-88. For instance, you'll get drawings of bomb sight, the rear cockpit radio suite, the control wheel and rudder pedals as well as things like oxygen regulators and other cockpit equipment. To say that this section concentrates on the cockpit and its fittings would be fitting in of itself. It also includes images of the lower gondola, upper gun position and a few other external views of the fuselage.

In all, it is a superb volume and one that anyone with an interest in this plane should have on their shelves.