Junkers Ju 388

Had this plane been available two years earlier the Germans would have been able to bomb Britain with immunity.

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Fun fact: Ju 388 was involved in the highest-altitude intercept and shoot-down of the war. Flying reconnaissance over Britain, at over 44,291 feet, a Spitfire pilot flying far above his own operational altitude managed to fire on the 388 from below and bring it down.

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Unfortunately, by the time the decision had been made to go ahead with production of the Ju-388, it was already too late.

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Developed as an alternative to the disastrous Ju-288, upon which vast amounts of time, effort and money had been wasted. Unfortunately, by the time the decision had been made to go ahead with production of the Ju-388, it was already too late.

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According to David Mondey's book "Axis Aircraft of World war II" (Smithmark Publishers, 1996), here are the specs for the Ju 388L high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft:
Engines: Two 1,890 hp BMW801TJ 14-cylinder radials
Performance: Max. speed: 382 mph at 40,305 ft; 407 mph at 29,790 ft with water-methanol boost
Service ceiling: 44,095 ft
Max. range with external tanks: 2,159 miles
Weight: empty: 22,601 lb; max. takeoff: 32,353 lb
Dimensions: Span: 72 ft 2 inches; length: 49 ft 10 1 /2 inches; Height: 14 ft 3 1 /4 inches
Armament: Tail barbette with two 13-mm MG 131 mg's (remotely controlled)
Construction of the Ju 388L was halted in Dec. 1944 after only 47 were built as photo-reconnaissance was no longer a top priority. Other models halted were the Ju 388J fighter (three prototypes built) and the Ju 388K bomber version (fifteen completed).

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